The Maravi Post

BLANTYRE—Malawi will receive 188 million Euros from the European Union for the country’s development programs, Pres Joyce Banda said Wednesday.

“EU has re-affirmed its commitment to Malawi and has already given us huge chunks of money for social cash transfer programme, irrigation farming and the green-belt initiative,” said Banda on arrival from Dubai after attending the 7th European Development Days (EDDs) Summit in Belgium.

She said developing countries at the summit, whose theme was “Inclusive and Sustainable Growth for Human Development” spoke about bottlenecks to development.

“We took advantage of the summit to address our concerns. There must be smart partnership between developed and developing countries.

“We need fair trade. Developing countries should not only be exporting less than 50 percent EU market. We want developing countries to export more to European Union and address issues of eradicating poverty and how we can achieve equity and lack of discrimination as we distribute our wealth,” said Banda.

The Malawi leader also shared her vision and marketed her economic recovery plan and other reforms put in place to transform the country’s ailing economy.

Banda said she held discussions with the European ambassadors on the issue of small scale irrigation which is under one of the five sectors highlighted in the newly launched Economic Recovery Plan (ERP).

The European Development Days is an annual policy event that brings together hundreds of development advocates, decision makers and practitioners.

From Belgium, Pres Banda proceeded to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) where she delivered keynote address at the World Energy Forum (WEF) on 22nd October.

At WEF delegates discussed several issues including sustainable agriculture, food security and resilience and engaging the private sector for development and empowering people for inclusive growth.

Pres Banda met with various investors who like to put their money in Malawi’s energy sector as well as infrastructure namely airports, roads, industrial and institutional structures.
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© The Maravi Post 2012. Reproduction without acknowledgement prohibited

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