INDIA AND
MALAWI
AN ENHANCED ECONOMIC,
DEVELOPMENTAL AND
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
By Amb Manju Seth*
Dr. Emmanuel Fabiano, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation of Malawi meets Smt. Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister
of India, in New Delhi on 26 March, 2018
A
Indian External Affairs Minister, Smt Sushma Swaraj meeting Hon. Dr. George
Chaponda, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Malawi on the sidelines of 3rd India-
Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi
Vice President of Malawi, Hon. Dr. Saulos Chilima at CII Conclave in India
s India rapidly transforms itself, underpinned by
strong economic growth making it the sixth largest
economy, it is increasingly engaging with its
immediate and extended neighbourhood, especially focussing
on Africa. India, since independence, has had close ties with
the developing world including with African countries many
of whom were inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent
freedom movement, to attain independence from colonial
rule.
The International order is in fl ux and seeing a redistribution
of power and an emerging multi-centric world order.
Countries are competing for strategic resources and the
changing nature of the confl ict with non-state actors emerging
as a threat to human and state security, burgeoning terrorist
activity, climate change, etc. all call for a fresh approach. In
this scenario, it is important for India to establish mutually
benefi cial economic and strategic partnerships with other
countries to ensure that appropriate mechanisms are put in
place to safeguard all security aspects including national
security, food security, energy security, nuclear security,
cyber security, etc. In today’s world, strategic and economic
interests of any country are intricately interlinked and hence
increasingly countries are paying attention to strengthening
economic partnerships as a key element of strategic relations.
Economic, Trade and development aid policies help to build
constituencies of mutual trust and confi dence and underpin
a robust strategic relationship.
It is a matter of satisfaction that India and Malawi share
warm and friendly people to people relations dating back
to over 150 years when Indian traders from Gujarat fi rst
came to Malawi. India established diplomatic relations with
2019 • INDIA-MALAWI • 7