Mutharika says UN trip immense success: ‘Malawi to benefit alot’

The Malawi leader Peter Mutharika left New York, United States of America (USA) back to Malawi on Sunday evening after describing his 14-day in America as successful.

“It has been highly successful,” said Mutharika in his last interview to give while in New York. “We have managed to do almost everything we had set out.”

The President said he and his team managed to meet development partners for aid, business captains for trade corporation and investors take up investment opportunities in Malawi.

“Of course we also managed to meet with the UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon who flattered us with an encouragement to be a country of influence on the African continent on matters of democracy, human rights, peacekeeping, health, trade and investment,” he recalled.

Besides, Mutharika said, he was pleased to have addressed the UN General Assembly where he looked at what needs to be done by the membership of the UN to have a successful Post-2015 period after the expiry of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) implementation time span.

“I am also pleased that I was one of the few leaders that talked about the need of finding peace between Israel and Palestine,” he said.

Mutharika said he was also pleased with the support that his concept of introducing technical colleges in all districts in Malawi for skills training has received internationally.

“We have managed to identify donors to support this project. Among them is Mr George Soros whom I met a few days ago,” said Mutharika.

Soros is an American philanthropist who participates in development and humanitarian work in different parts of the world, especially in developing and low income countries.

“I am currently talking to different people in China, India and here to help us with teachers, teaching and learning materials,” said Mutharika.

At the rate things are going, the Malawi leader, he revealed that the first phase of introducing the technical colleges in all the 28 districts of Malawi will roll out in January 2015.

“The second phase will involve introducing the colleges in all the 193 constituencies that we have,” he disclosed.

He explained that secret behind the overwhelming support the concept has received is the universal acknowledgement that it is not possible for government to absorb all the people that are not employed.

“Jobs are few. That is why it is important that we train others to employ themselves and create jobs for others,” he explained.

Mutharika also said that three days after making a presentation to the Corporate Council for Africa (CCA), an American group that fosters investment in Africa, about 8 companies have been in touch with him expressing interest to invest in Malawi.

“One of them which is led by John Hinks (chairman of CCA) is interested to invest in power generation using biomass. He will be coming to Malawi in the next fortnight for discussions,” said Mutharika.

The Malawi leader was in the USA to attend the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly.