Mutharika ends US visit: Malawi trade reforms hailed
Malawi President Peter Mutharika has ended his working visit to United States where he met with the United States trade representative, officials of the Export Import Bank as well as officials from a tobacco buyers group.
Mutharika has been commended by US Trade Representative Ambassador Michael Froman for the efforts his administration has put in place to improve trade in Malawi.
Froman spoke in Washington DC when he had an audience with the Malawi leader at the end of his official tour of the United States.
Ambassador was among others impressed with the launch of the One Stop Service Centre at Malawi Investment Trade Centre (MITC), which has improved the registration of new business licences from about 60 days to about five days.
“The established of the One Stop Trade centre is a great milestone in the creation of an enabling environment for trade and development,” he said.
In his remarks, President Mutharika asked Ambassador Froman to lobby in renewing the AGOA Act for another term.
“In addition, it would be most appreciated if you assisted the Malawi Government, to increase its quota of tobacco sales in the USA market, especially when you consider that some producers do not fulfill their quota as required,” said Mutharika
“As you are aware, Malawi’s number one foreign exchange earner is tobacco. Malawi can take advantage of this situation to help more rural farmers in Malawi,” he added.
In his response the US Trade Representative promised to lobby with the US government to review Malawi’s quota to the US market.
He also pledged to lobby with the Obama administration to increase support to Malawi through their existing channels such as AGOA, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, PEPFAR, the Africa Power Pool initiative and YALI.
While in Washington, President Mutharika was also the guest of honor at the U.S. Congressional International Conservation Caucus Foundation – a bipartisan group. The organization wants to set up a bi-partisan caucus in Malawi’s parliament on conservation.
He returns home on Saturday.
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Khoswe akakhala pa mkate salasika .K92 billion no investigation until end of term.
l thank u mr presdent with the outcome on ur trip.we here it all, but the problem is that it never hapen thats where our warez r. l m realy concen about our country whith what is hapening u r now taking it like ur investmenting area that by the end u will achiev something .l am one ov the national living in south africa we do get insoted and we fill ashemed of ur country becouse of the poor gavernance up to 60yz of independes nobody had to come consractive mind but to destroy the nation.Piz we ask for… Read more »
#4 Kenkk: well said!
I just long for a time when Malawi will have a president who will talk less but people able to see action on the ground. Kapena mwina nzostheka kutero. Zinthu zosagwira mtima koma pokopoko ashi! Kodi Malawi tsoka or chiyani?
A whole president travels outside his country to carry out tasks meant for a PS or Director?? Very strange also that we never heard of him holding any talks with government officials at th highest level such as secretary/minister. Ife kwathu kuno olo kutabwera ka minister kamene kakunja kamakakumana ndi president basi
This time we want investors to really come to malawi and invest. Last time you went to USA, you claimed with great pomp that you have made or agreed this and that deal with investors but to our surprise nothing materialised. You have repeated the same pomp this second trip and hopefully your deals will be genuine and be realised, otherwise talk is very cheap indeed!!! We don’t want tax payers money to be wasted on foreign trips that yield nothing of benefit to malawi’s development but only benefitting you and your entourage’s pockets. Welcome home, there is a lot… Read more »
Koma uyo Jane Nankwenya has overstayed at the Malawi Embassy amangwetu.She is good at kuzigulira malo
Za zill zija ndi izi
Welcome home Mr. President, as we all know very well that our previous leaders were also promised heaven even paradise by these called investors. 50 years just few investors are in our country. Who can invest in our country where corruption is too high, the transport system is very poor, I mean our roads, our electricity can can go off anytime. Our economy is pathetic First, Mr President, fight corruption. Start with the investigation of K92 billion which went missing when your late brother was the president and you Mr President was part of his government. Otherwise your meetings in… Read more »