The Malawi and Israel governments have signed the labour export deal in Tel Aviv, a development that is expected to create employment for Malawian youths who would be working in Israeli farms.
The deal-signing ceremony preceded the opening of Malawi’s new embassy in Tel Aviv.
Foreign Affairs Minister Nancy Tembo, who was accompanied by other government officials including Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu and Minister of Labour Agnes NyaLonje, opened the embassy.
Speaking after the two events, Tembo hailed progress the two countries have made in fostering diplomatic relations.
Tembo said the opening of the embassy and signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) is the hallmark of unity of purpose.
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“It has been a good day for us, in terms of the relations between Israel and Malawi. It is an auspicious occasion. We have opened a Malawi embassy in Tel Aviv. We have had relations with Israel since independence and, so, we look at today as the maturing of the relations. At the end of the opening ceremony, we have signed an MoU for workers from Malawi to come to Israel and work in the agriculture sector,” she said.
Tembo further said this is just a pilot project and that a lot more Malawians would benefit from the agreement.
“This development gives employment to our workers. This is the process of knowledge transfer. Israel is a very advanced country and is technologically superior to us, Malawi. And we believe that our young people [who will be] coming to Israel will gain the knowledge and skills that they can take back home and use to grow Malawi,” the minister said.
Tembo added that Malawi stands to gain a lot from government’s move.
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“We take this as an opportunity to develop Malawi. Our President [Lazarus Chakwera] talks of job and wealth creation. This is an aspect of that vision.
“These young people will earn a living here and will remit their wages back home. And, so, this exchange is going to develop Malawi in many other sectors aside from the agriculture sector,” she said.
Charge de affaires David Bisnowarty said the opening of the embassy and the signing of the MoU symbolises maturity.
“A lot of Malawians are coming to work here. The government and the President would like to make sure that the embassy looks at the interests of the workers. We made sure that the embassy was opened because, after the signing of the MoU, many Malawians will be coming and they have to be looked after,” he said.
