The Blantyre City Council (BCC) has benefited from the first ever Malawi Investment Forum if the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that the city’s authorities have signed with the China-Zambia and China-Tanzania Friendly Cultural Exchange Programme on enhancing cooperation in various development projects, is something to go by.
Mayor Chalamanda in a signing ceremony
Here is the MoU
Mayor of the City of Blantyre Councillor Noel Chalamanda and the acting Chief Executive Officer for the Council Dr. Alfred Chanza put pen to paper on behalf of the Council on June30 2015 at a function held at the Bingu International Conference Centre in Lilongwe.
According to BCC public relations manager Anthony Kasunda there are a number of projects that include the construction of a modern High Way from Blantyre Central Business District (CBD) to Chileka International Airport via Mbayani, Chemusa, Chirimba and Kameza Townships.
Other projects are the construction of a modern multi storey parkade, construction of a building materials market, establishment of Taxi Company, establishment of brick manufacturing company, exploring the possibility of establishing a television channel for common use and television programmes exchange.
Under the same agreement, there will also be construction of park station/bus terminal, improving public transport system, introducing a city bus service, improving urban sewer system and sewage treatment, improving City street lighting, development of residential buildings in the city of Blantyre.
The investment forum offered an ideal platform for both foreign and local investors to interact and strike lucrative business deals and when President Professor Peter Mutharika hosted the investors to a banquet, he urged them to bring their capital and expertise into the country saying Malawi presents a favourable environment for investment growth.
Mutharika assured the investors of the country’s peace and stability adding that the country’s young generation was industrious and eager to be trained and move the country forward.
Minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, George Chaponda who is also chairperson of the cabinet committee in doing business, assured the investors that as a country led by a Professor at Law, Malawi would make sure that all agreements made with the investors were honoured.
Blantyre is the oldest city in the southern Africa and was once declared the cleanest city.
The forum pooled together over 130 investors from over 30 countries across the globe.