The Malawi President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera attended the third Intra African Trade Fair (IATF2023) in Cairo in November. Gracing the Fair, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt officially opened the Presidential summit on 13th November, 2023 alongside the Malawi President and President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe. In attendance were also Malawi’s Head of Mission in Cairo Her Excellency Ambassador Catherine N. Kunje; Minister of Industry and Trade Honourable Sosten Gwengwe, Ms. Christina Chatima Secretary for Industry and Trade, Mr. Benard Sande, Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Mr. Chancellor Kaferapanjira, Chief Economic Advisor to the President. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, several serving and former African vice presidents, serving ministers, other political and business leaders also attended the summit.
In his address during the summit, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi called on countries across the continent to consolidate their efforts and promote intra-African trade. President El Sisi said that Africa’s huge natural resources and its agricultural, educational and mineral potential should be leveraged to drive intra-African trade, adding that there was need for African nations to cooperate positively towards mutual growth. The President expressed the hope that IATF2023 would contribute to the growth of local economies.
Other speakers included Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank); Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairman of the IATF2023 Advisory Council and former President of Nigeria; Mr. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and Mr. Albert Muchanga, African Union Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals. These speakers unanimously agreed that the IATF had been a success to date and that intra-African trade and the AfCFTA are the gateway to prosperity for Africa. A documentary was also screened about treasures of Africa including agriculture, trade and workers.
During the summit, Honourable Sosten Gwengwe signed on behalf of the Government of Malawi a US$ 2 Billion framework agreement between Afreximbank and ARISE integrated industrial platforms and Governments of Egypt, Benin, Botswana, Chad and Zimbabwe. The purpose of this agreement is to establish a collaborative platform to facilitate the implementation of Export Agriculture for Food Security Initiative (ExAFS) in order to strengthen the cooperation in food production and promote Intra African Trade in Agricultural products.
His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera together with President Abdel Fatah El Sisi and President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other high level dignitaries toured selected pavilions as part of the summit.
