Peter Mutharika meets Putin, addresses summit
By Sarah Munthali, In Sochi, Russia:
President Peter Mutharika wound-up day one at the Russia- Africa Summit in Sochi, Russia with a one-on-one meeting with President of the Russian Federation at the Sirius Park of Science and Art.
The private meeting lasted for 30 minutes.
Mutharika is leading the Malawi delegation at the summit and the focus of Malawi is on investment in energy, mining and opening up of new markets for Malawi in Russia for products such as tobacco and legumes.
Addressing a plenary session at the summit Thursday, Mutharika asked Russia to take a lead in making meaningful investments in African countries including Malawi and take them as development partners and not targets for exploitation.
He said Malawi and other African countries are endowed with rich natural resources such as minerals, lakes, rivers and mountains which form great investment potential.
Mutharika, therefore, said: Time had come for Russia to do what history has failed. Time has come to set Africa on a new economic balance of scales and give African people the dignity they deserve.
“We must bring to an end Africa’s history of exploitation. Africa can best contribute to the world if we create good conditions of production.
“We cannot trade with the world if we do not produce goods. Therefore, Africa must industrialise,” he said.
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