A $25m hotel in Blantyre, Malawi commercial capital is part of the city project that is aimed at conferences as well as other businesses attraction. As a way of reviving the city as a major trade hub in the region, the investor is optimistic about the Sogecoa Business Park set to consist of a hotel rated at five stars, a recreation center which will include a shopping mall, a casino, and a cinema.
Xia Fang, the Anhui Foreign Economic Construction (Group) Co vice president expects that this project set to be completed in December will transform Blantyre into an attraction for commercial activities, family entertainment, and conference services throughout the year.
Xia expressed his willingness to invest more in Malawi which has offered a good investment environment for past ten years and is friendly to China with a plan to put $75m in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi in constructing an additional business park and recreation facility. Henry Mussa, Minister of trade tourism and industry of Malawi both of these projects will generate three thousand more jobs.
According to Alfred Joabe who is a lecturer at the Catholic University of Malawi on Commerce studies notes that giant economies including China just like other developed world economies have joined in support and promotion of Foreign Direct Investment towards the developing economies such as Malawi. He insists on the need to recognize efforts such as those of the Chinese investors which are crucial elements in pushing for the growth of economies.
The President of Malawi, Peter Mutharika expressed the same views stating that such a project would greatly impact on tourism sector while creating new jobs for the young population on 19th Dec while he commissioned the new Blantyre project. He also expressed his sentiments on the stalled progress on the development of Blantyre for a long period with this investment set to not only modernize that region but also youths together with other residents would gain from wealth and jobs creation. President Mutharika also hinted on many other infrastructural development projects in the pipeline which are funded by the Chinese Government that include a Chileka International Airport rehabilitation which is the second largest airport in Malawi, a rind road stretching up to 186 kilometers in Blantyre and a national stadium set to be constructed.
Bingu National Stadium, Malawi University of Science and Technology, northern region Karonga-Chipita Road, Malawi Parliament building, Bingu Conference Center and Hotel and presidential villas constructions are among the achievements attained from the Malawi-China cooperation.
Chinese ambassador to Malawi believes that China is a giant FDI in Malawi siting that this year is 10th anniversary between the two countries relations whereby all the fruits can be seen. Wang is optimistic that more so that the new projects in Blantyre will attract more people resulting in progressive growth of the country’s economy. He also encouraged other investors from China to invest in Malawi as the opportunities are many.
