On 10^th July, 2023, His Excellency Dr. Thomas Bisika, Malawi’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, presented Letters of Credence to Mr. Kitack Lim, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Malawi joined IMO in 1989. Despite becoming an IMO member for such a long time, no Malawi diplomatic mission was officially accredited to the organisation. Dr Bisika is, therefore, the first Malawi High Commissioner to present Letters of Credence to IMO, a process which also makes the Malawi High Commission in London serve as the Malawi Permanent Mission to IMO with a fully accredited Permanent Representative.

Mr. Lim welcomed Malawi to the IMO family and acknowledged that this was the first time that the Government of Malawi had presented Letters of Credence to IMO. He highlighted a recently concluded IMO’s 80^th Session of Maritime Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC 80), during which the 2023 IMO Strategy for Reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction was adopted, which is a blueprint for IMO Member States to address climate change from the maritime sector. He also observed that carbon pricing was key towards unlocking the finance that Malawi can tap into.

In his remarks, Dr. Bisika conveyed greetings from His Excellency Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi, and expressed appreciation for IMO’s support, which included technical, financial and capacity building, even before the submission of Letters of Credence. Dr. Bisika expressed the readiness of the Government of Malawi to deepen cooperation with IMO in areas of capacity building, climate change, maritime legislation and water transport. He then invited Mr. Lim, who is due to retire in December, 2023, to visit Malawi before his retirement.

The High Commissioner of the Republic of Malawi, Dr Thomas John Bisika, presented his letters of credence to President George Vella at the Grandmaster’s Palace, Valletta on 27th June, 2023. This is a momentous occasion for both countries.

President Vella articulated that, despite the geographical distances and disparate realities, Malta anticipates the deepening of cooperation with Malawi for the mutual benefit of both nations. This presents a valuable opportunity. In addition to the bilateral front, increased exchanges could transpire on the multilateral level, given that Malawi and Malta are members of several of the same international organizations, most notably the United Nations and the Commonwealth. On this final point, President Vella recollected an intriguing Commonwealth meeting he attended at Marlborough House in London, concerning youth and the environment, which is of interest to both Malawi and Malta. This presents an opportunity to effect meaningful change.

An overview of his plans for the ensuing years was provided by the High Commissioner and tourism, digitalization, and infrastructural development were identified as potential areas of cooperation with Malta. Tangible progress can be achieved in these areas. Reference was also made by High Commissioner Bisika to the numerous reforms currently underway in his country, which have been heavily impacted by COVID-19 and a series of devastating natural disasters that claimed numerous lives. This is a critical moment for decisive action to be taken.

Exchanges also broached issues of global concern, with specific mention being made of the provision of energy and water. These are matters that affect us all and it is incumbent upon us to collaborate in finding solutions.

The UK-Malawi Bilateral Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Malawi High Commission UK organised a successful business networking event that took place on Sunday 7th of May at the InterContinental London Park Lane.

The Guest of Honour was His Excellency, Dr Lazarus Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi who was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Nancy Tembo MP, Secretary to the Office of President and Cabinet, Miss Colleen Zamba and Malawi High Commissioner, Dr Thomas Bisika.

The event was attended by 50 captains of industry and a network of business partners and investors covering Malawi’s key ATM sectors (Agriculture, Tourism and Mining); as well as Infrastructure, Education, Health, ICT, Manufacturing and Financial Services.