China Xinwei Telecom to roll out in Malawi: Xu meets Mutharika

A Chinese telecommunication firm, Beijing Xinwei Telecom Technology Inc., will soon roll out in Malawi to offer cost-effective communication technologies to the rural masses according to the company’s Chief Scientist, Guanghan Xu.

President Mutharika with Malawian top officials and Chinese delegation pose on the group photograph at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe-Pic. by Abel Ikiloni
President Mutharika with Malawian top officials and Chinese delegation pose on the group photograph at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe-Pic. by Abel Ikiloni
President Peter Mutharika receives a gift from Chief Scientist Guanghan Xu at Kamuzu Palace-Pic. by Abel Ikiloni
President Peter Mutharika receives a gift from Chief Scientist Guanghan Xu at Kamuzu Palace-Pic. by Abel Ikiloni

This came to light Friday when a highly powered five-member delegation of the firm led by Guanghan met President Prof. Peter Mutharika at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe to sell their investment idea.

The Beijing Xinwei Telecom Technology Inc. Chief Scientist said they had noted that the rural masses in the country lacked communication technologies that were not only reliable but affordable too.

“What makes our company different from others is that we develop technologies and operate telecommunication services while the telecommunication companies in Malawi are only operators and no one is developing communication technologies,” said Guanghan.

He said the firm understood challenges rural people in developing countries faced and the company’s main focus had always been developing affordable communication solutions for such people so as to accord them a chance to communicate with the rest of the world just like those living in towns and cities.

Guanghan said Beijing Xinwei Telecommunication Technology had also rolled out in Cambodia, among other countries, where the lives of people in the rural areas were improving following the affordable technology solutions.

“We would manufacture very affordable cell phone of as low as US$10 – US$20 (MK4,500. – MK9,000) which could provide everything including voice calls, videos, internet, among other applications,” explained the Chief Scientist.

He said in Cambodia, for instance, people in the rural areas were paying as low as 2 dollars for internet and call usage for the whole month.

In his remarks, President Mutharika said the investors were welcome and he described ICT as a sector that had high potential in the country.

Mutharika noted that Malawi was one of the countries in Africa with highest rates of telecommunication and that cheaper solutions as suggested by the Chinese company would be ideal.

“Affordability of telecommunication services is very important especially to the rural masses because 80 percent of the population in Malawi lives in the rural areas,” explained Mutharika.

He assured the Chinese prospective investors that Malawi government would give all investors maximum security both for their investments and their personnel.

The president further said government had deliberately eased the process of acquiring investment licenses as a way of wooing investors into the country.

Accompanying the president at the meeting were Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Minister, George Chaponda, Minister of Trade and Industry, Joseph Mwanamveka, Minister of Information, Tourism and Culture, Kondwani  Nankhumwa and his Principal Secretary, Chimwemwe Banda.

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Malawian Mom
Malawian Mom
8 years ago

OH APM- WHAT IS IN THAT LUNCH BAG? PALM OILING, I CAN SEE THE WAY YOU ARE SHAKING THAT HAND.

Gawera wa Gawera
Gawera wa Gawera
8 years ago

Ironically Goodall proposes tax on Internet and SMS. No wonder we will be the poorest nation with highest telecommunications tarifs. Welcome the Chinese

Nanga ntani
8 years ago

Chinese company is welcome, government must invest at list with 60% share and also Malawian nationals must get job in these companies. Not all workers from managing director to cleaner must be Chinese.

ujeni
8 years ago

Malawi government officials are the usual suspects, mbava, look at their faces.

gregua
gregua
8 years ago

communication at affordable tarrifs. u r welcome.

nganga
nganga
8 years ago

Tell them that we don’t need their disposable cellphones here you charge a phone after 30 mins battery about to die

muthu muonege
muthu muonege
8 years ago

Competition ikufunika these pre-existing companies amatikawa eish let this china firm be a breather.

half man half biscuit
half man half biscuit
8 years ago

the vice president has been central in telecommunications development in malawi? why was he not invited? where is andrew kumbatira, and even the officials from malawi chamber of commerce, economics society of malawi, and pss from trade and finance? there are serious questions to be asked: what is the base capital investment by china?? how much will malawi invest? what skills will malawi contribute? etc

Mbewa ndi nchira
Mbewa ndi nchira
8 years ago

These people will later on be evading tax and intimidating MRA on grounds they came to Malawi because of the president and unfornately the president will be telling the nation that he is able to woo investors.

But the bottom line is that thin cow is now very desparete becuase all the money is gone.

Why is the president involved in this process? Does it mean all the investors go see the president? What for? Don’t we departments to handle this.

Palm oiling.palm oiling.Then directive from above.
You are all stupid.

soberman
soberman
8 years ago

That’s the way to go. May be we shall cease to be robbed and being deceived. Bonus ikhale from 11 p.m to 5 a.m! Umfiti chani???

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