AfDB Group's Field Office Opens for Business

The African Development Bank Group's Malawi Field Office (MWFO) is open for business following the presentation of letters of accreditation by the Resident Representative, Mr. Frank Kufakwandi, to the country's foreign affairs minister, Hon Joyce Banda, on Tuesday in Lilongwe.

Mr. Kufakwandi informed the minister about the Bank's appreciation of the country's macroeconomic stability, its growth rate of 8% in 2006, and its improved performance in the agriculture sector which recorded a bumper harvest during the 2006 season.

He emphasized the Bank's commitment to continue working with other donors in support of Malawi's Growth and Development Strategy in the domains of sustainable economic growth, social protection, social development, infrastructure, and good governance. He emphasized the need to work towards making Malawi competitive both in the SADC regional and global markets.

Hon. Banda, for her part, expressed the government's appreciation of the Bank's decision to open the Malawi office as a means of deepening dialogue with the government. Mr. Kufakwandi had earlier paid a courtesy call on the finance minister, Hon. Goodall Gondwe.

The field offices are part of the Bank Group's decentralization strategy aimed at strengthening its operations in regional member countries.

The first batch of offices were opened in 2000 in Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon and Nigeria; followed buy Mozambique, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Tunisia, which was superseded by the relocation of the Bank in 2003. The third batch (2004-2005) comprise Algeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, and Rwanda; while fourth batch was completed in 2006 in Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Zambia..

The offices are expected to strengthen in-country activity and knowledge, conduct policy and strategy dialogue with countries, participate in donor consultations, and constitute a focal point for key project implementation.

The operations of the Bank Group in Malawi commenced in 1969. To date, the cumulative commitments of the Group in the country stand at US$1.266 billion in 140 operations.