Saudi Fund for Development has committed to providing US$20 million towards the construction of the Blantyre District Hospital and the Mangochi-Makanjira Road following discussions held with the Government of Malawi.
A delegation from the Saudi Fund, led by Senior Loan Operations Expert for Africa Ahmed Almaghyuli, on Tuesday met Malawi’s Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation, Hon. Joseph Mathyola Mwanamvekha, M.P., in Lilongwe to discuss implementation plans for the two projects.
The funding commitment follows Mwanamvekha’s visit to four Gulf countries in December last year undertaken on the directive of President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika.
Speaking after the meeting, Mwanamvekha commended President Mutharika for facilitating the financial support for both the Blantyre District Hospital and the Mangochi-Makanjira Road project.
In an interview, Almaghyuli expressed confidence in Malawi’s development agenda, saying the country’s infrastructure plans continue to motivate the Saudi Fund for Development to provide support.
The Mangochi-Makanjira Road project is a major 101-kilometre infrastructure development initiative aimed at upgrading the existing dirt and single-lane road into a fully paved two-lane bitumen-standard road.
The multi-phased project is expected to be implemented with financial support from various international cooperating partners. Once completed, the road is expected to reduce travel time, promote cross-border trade, boost tourism, and improve access to markets and essential social services for communities along the lakeshore districts.