European Union (EU) Ambassador to Malawi Rune Skinnebach has said the country has potential to move towards stability and grow the economy with sound policies in place.
He said sound economic management policies would also help towards addressing poverty.
Skinnebach said on Wednesday that, as development partners, efforts by the EU and its member states revolve around supporting the country out of poverty and towards economic stability.
He said the country has, over the years, faced myriad challenges that counter the effort to address some of the economic woes.
Skinnebach singled out harsh weather conditions due to climate change among challenges the country is facing, which, he said, require concerted efforts to address.
He said the country needs to also invest heavily in sustainable infrastructure development.
“There is demographic pressure but Malawi has a huge potential of being a developed country. Look at the weather, look at the land and water it has. There is a need to increase awareness on such necessities,” he said.
Skinnebach also said some of the agreements that are being signed in other nations, like mining activities are not being prioritised in Malawi.
“The mining agreements that are being signed in other countries are not being signed here in Malawi.
That is a development we need to push. Development partners may face competition in the world. My advice could be that Malawi must have a business conducive climate.
“The country must also make sure that it is an attractive destination for foreign direct investments. Those are sources of development that may help Malawi achieve its 2063 goals ,” he said.
Unicef Representative to Malawi Shadrack Omol said the country needs to put extra effort in fighting poverty.
“Fighting poverty will always be a journey. We need to put more effort so that we lift out of poverty all these people facing poverty in Malawi.
Otherwise, we are not yet there in this fight,” he said.
Malawi is among the world’s least developed countries.