JB in Kuwait: MoU signed with Direct Aid for university, development projects in Malawi
Malawi President Joyce Banda on Sunday, November 17, 2013 arrived in Kuwait City in the Persian Gulf . On arrival the President witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Malawi Government and Direct Aid, a Kuwait-based international charitable organization, at a colourful ceremony held at Jumeira Messilla Beach Hotel.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ephraim Mganda Chiume signed the MoU on behalf of the Malawi Government. Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Muhailan, Board Chairperson of Direct Aid, signed on behalf of his organization.
The MoU will enable Direct Aid to operate as a fully-fledged international organization in Malawi with the objective of financing development projects in Malawi, particularly in education, agriculture, rural development, health and social services, orphans sponsorship and relief services to affected areas in times of disaster.
The organization will also construct and establish a university in Malawi soon, according to its Board Chairperson, Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Muhailan.
President Banda expressed gratitude following Direct Aid’s pledge to construct a university, which will focus on provision of technical education.
Said President Banda:“This will help some of youth to acquire the needed skills for self employment but also entry into the industry. Let me also kindly ask you Mr. Chairperson to favourably prioritize the request that I made to Direct Aid to construct a grand Mosque in Mangochi.
“As you are aware, the recent statistics show that the Muslim Population in Malawi is significant at about 12 percent, therefore this grand Mosque when constructed it will inspire our Muslim brothers and sisters not only in Mangochi, but country wide.
“In this regard, I want you to know that I have undoubted commitment to supporting the freedom of worship of all Muslims and other faiths in Malawi”.
The President also thanked Direct Aid for “responding to her call”, purchasing medicines worth MK70 million for Malawi. She said this would provide “some relief in the current medicine stock outs the country is experiencing”.
Added the President: “I am also grateful for the support towards provision of clean water to many Malawians through the boreholes Direct Aid has sunk. On behalf of the people of Malawi, I want to thank Direct Aid and the people of Kuwait for your commitment to support Malawi through various programmes. I look forward to our continued collaboration”.
According to State House Press Officer, Tusekele Mwanyongo, the Malawi leader ealier met officials of Kuwait-based Mezzan Holdings Company and Waleed Al-Abdul Jader, two high-profile firms interested in importing low and middle skilled labour from Malawi.
The officials said that they will soon be travelling to Malawi to engage the authorities and interested workers for low skill jobs.
On Monday, November 18, President Banda travels to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to attend the will attend the World Economic Forum’s Summit on the Global Development Agenda, the world’s largest brainstorming event which brings together the most relevant thought leaders of the WEF’s Network of Global Agenda Councils.
As a member of the Global Agenda Council on Poverty and Sustainable Development, President Banda will share her views on the priorities and challenges of the post-2015 agenda.
She is expected to discuss potential gaps, issues or activities that the Global Agenda Council’s and the WEF could most usefully take on to support a successful post-2015 agenda outcome .
