High Commission of India
Lilongwe
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India-Malawi Bilateral Relations

India and Malawi shares cordial and friendly bilateral relations. India established diplomatic relations with Malawi immediately after Malawi’s Independence in 1964.  Subsequently, a resident Mission in Malawi was established, however, due to some administrative reasons, the High Commission in Malawi was closed in 1994, though India continued to have diplomatic relations with Malawi. Malawi was concurrently accredited to our Mission in Zambia until February 2012. The resident mission was re-opened in March, 2012. Malawi opened its Mission in Delhi in February 2007.

A. High Level Engagements:

The bilateral relations between India and Malawi have further strengthened through regular high level exchanges. Some of the important bilateral visits took place recently are as follows:

(i) Shri M. Hamid Ansari, Hon’ble Vice President of India visited Malawi from 7-9 January 2010.

(ii) Late Prof. Bingu wa Mutharika, President of Malawi visited India from 2-7 November 2010.

(iii) Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, Vice President of Malawi  visited India from 25-27 March 2018.

(iv) Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Hon’ble Vice President of India visited Malawi from 4-5 November 2018.

(v) Shri V. Muraleedharan, Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs visited Malawi from 08-10 June 2022.

(vi) Smt. Droupadi Murmu, Hon’ble Rashtrapati ji visited Malawi from 17 – 19 October 2024.

President of Malawi Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera through a tweet and also a letter condemned the terrorist attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025 in which 26 people were killed.

Malawi President sent a condolence message to the Hon’ble President on tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad ITEC on 12 June 2025.

B. Capacity Building

(i) India is participating significantly in the human resource development of Malawi. India provides approximately 20 scholarships to Malawian students to pursue higher studies  in India every year.  Government of India also provide 150 slots every year to Malawi under ITEC Programme. So far, about 1000 Malawian nationals from both government and private sectors have been trained in India in various fields since 2008. In addition, 72 Malawi Defence officials have been trained/undergoing ITEC Programme and UN Peacekeeping Training programme since 2018.

(ii) Similarly, more than 100 students from Malawi had availed their higher education in various universities in India under Africa Scholarship Scheme and India-Africa Forum Summit Training programme.

(iii) Pan-African E-Network : The multi-million dollar Pan-African E-Network project was set up at Chancellor College in Zomba, Malawi. The Project commenced in August 2010 and concluded in March 2017. The programme was successful and more than 2,000 Malawians benefited under this programme.

(iv) E-Vidya Bharati Aarogya Bharati (E-VBAB): Since E-VBAB project has been launched by Government of India in January 2020, more than 1900 students have been awarded scholarship to pursue short-term, under-graduation and post-graduation courses.

C. Development Partnership:

(a)  Lines of Credit:

Since 2008, India has extended LoC worth US$ 395.68 mn for Malawi for various infrastructure development projects. Projects worth US$ 180 mn including Sugar Factory in Salima; 60 mn litre capacity Fuel Storage Facilities in Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu; Cotton Ginneries in Ngabu, Ngara and Balaka; Dal Processing Plants in Liwonde and Luchenza, etc., have been completed. 

In November 2018, Hon’ble Vice President of India during his visit to Malawi, announced a new LoC of US$ 215.68 million for drinking water supply schemes in Malawi. The LoC agreement was signed between Government of Malawi and EXIM Bank on 12 June 2020. In June 2022, TATA Consulting Engineers Ltd. has been awarded to prepare DPR and design for 30 MW solar water pumping station. The project has been temporarily put on hold in view of GoI’s decision to restructuring of debt extended to Malawi at latter’s request.

(b) Grants:

(i) During the visit of Vice President of India to Malawi in January 2010, a  grant of US $ 5 million was offered to Malawi - Science & Laboratory equipments worth US$ 1.5 million and medical equipments worth US$ 1.5 million consisting of mammography and ultra-sound machines were donated to Malawi government. US$1 million worth of agricultural implements supplied by India were handed over in August 2015 to Government of Malawi.  In July 2015, a grant of US$1 million worth of essential medicines and drugs were handed over to Government of Malawi towards disaster relief operations in 2015. The GoI has also extended another grant of US$ 1 million in response to an international Appeal declaring Malawi on “State of Disaster” by President of Malawi in 2016.

(ii) In 2020, Government of India gifted 1,000 MT of Rice in response to request for Aid due to failure of crop.

(iii) During the visit of Hon’ble Vice President of India to Malawi in November 2018, the following grants were announced: (i) Bhabhatron Cancer treatment machine -  [During the Hon’ble President’s State Visit to Malawi in October 2024, the machine was symbolically handed over to the GoM since the machine has already been installed at Kamuzu Central Hospital, Lilongwe].  Malawi President will inaugurate Cancer Centre on 2nd July 2025 at KCH, Lilongwe. (ii) Medicines worth US$ 2 million – The medicines were handed over to Government of Malawi in July 2020; (iii) 10 ambulances – Ambulances were handed over to Government of Malawi in February 2020 (iv) 100,000 text books for Malawi schools – The books were handed over to Government of Malawi in February 2020.

(iv)  The Government of India under its “India for Humanity” initiative conducted Artificial Limbs Fitment Camp in Lilongwe at Kamuzu Central Hospital in 2018. The Vice President of India inaugurated the camp in which  551 Malawians were fitted with artificial limbs. The second camp was organized in July – September 2024 in which 599 Malawians been benefitted.  During the State visit of Hon’ble President, India’s commitment to assist Malawi to establish a Permanent Artificial Limb fitment Centre was announced. The Machineries and equipment has already been handed over to Government of Malawi in January 2025. In addition, GOI is also providing 1000 artificial limbs as donation to the Permanent Artificial Limb fitment Centre.  

(v) As part of Covid-19 assistance, India gifted 50,000 doses of India-made Covid vaccine in March 2021. In September 2021, India gifted Covid related essential medicines and PPE material worth US$ 1.4 mn.

(vi) During his visit in June 2022, Shri V. Muraleedharan, MoS announced gifting of 200 laptops to Members of Parliament of Malawi which were gifted to Parliament of Malawi in November 2022. Another announcement of gifting of Anti-cancer medicine worth US$ 1.4 million was also made which were handed over to GoM in July 2023.  

(vii) In March 2023, Cyclone Freddy which hit Malawi, killed over 600 people and injured over 1700. The Cyclone damaged more than 200,000 hectares of crops and killed or washed away more than 285,000 Livestock. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi through a tweet expressed condolences and solidarity to the President of Malawi. Subsequently, the Government of India announced donated of approximate 80 tons of emergency relief items and essential medicines to Malawi on 26 March 2023.   

(viii) In November 2024, 1000 MT rice was donated to Malawi in response to President of Malawi’s appeal in wake of El Nino phenomenon impact.

(ix) Business Incubation Centre (BIC): India has established a Business Incubation Centre worth US $ 1 million in Malawi to provide short term training in processing of Tomato, Mangoes and cassava.  The Center also has facilities to train students in semi-precious stone cutting and polishing techniques; compost processing unit and briquette unit.  A group of 14 Master Trainers were trained by Indian experts. The Business Incubation Centre was inaugurated in November 2018 by Hon’ble Vice President of India and handed over to Government of Malawi in January 2019 after completion.

(c) Cotton Technical Assistance Programme (C-TAP): The C-TAP Programme was started by India in 2012 for African countries including Malawi.  Under the programme, 200 participants and 25 trainers from Malawi were trained through regional training and exposure visits to India. GoI has also set up and handed over the ‘Skill School for Apparel Manufacturing’ with 20 Industrial Sewing Machines and Cutting equipments to Government of Malawi in September 2016 and the facility has the capacity to train 20 Malawians at a time.

D. Commercial Relations: India-Malawi trade relations are historic and dates back to 18th century coinciding with the arrival of Indian tradesmen, mainly from Gujarat to the African sub-continent. Malawi as an LDC, is also a beneficiary under GoI’s Duty Free Tariff Preference scheme introduced in April 2008. The bilateral trade between India and Malawi for 2024-25 stands at US$ 170.64 million (approx). The Indian exports to Malawi stood at  US$ 94.56 million while the exports from Malawi to India stood at US$ 76.08 million. India is also one of the largest investors in Malawi with over US$500 million worth investment.

E. Cooperation in Mining: India and Malawi have signed an MoU on “Cooperation in the field of Mineral Resources Development” in 2010.  Under the MoU, Joint Working Group (JWG) has been established and so far 2 meetings of the JWG have been held. The dates for next JWG is under discussion.  Revised MOU on Cooperation in the field of Mines and Mineral resources is under consideration of GOM.

F. Cooperation in Power sector:  In May 2020, an MoU was signed between EGENCO, the Malawi Power generation company and NTPC, the public sector Indian company, for cooperation in power generation. Malawi has a huge power deficit and only around 19% of the population has access to electricity.

G. Multilateral: The two countries hold identical views on many regional, international and multilateral issues.

(i) UN

(a) Security Council Reform:

Malawi has been supportive of expansion of the Security Council in the UN. Malawi agrees that the current composition and function of the Security Council does not reflect the realities of the international communities in the 21st century.  Malawi has conveyed her support to the G4 - India, Brazil, Germany and Japan initiative, but maintains that she will abide by the decision taken by AU, in so far as reforms in the UN are concerned.  

(ii) International Solar Alliance: Malawi was one of early countries who signed and ratified the ISA Framework Agreement in November, 2017. Mr Aggrey Masi, Minister for Natural Resources, Energy and Mining represented Malawi at ISA Founding Conference held on 11 March, 2018 in New Delhi. In October 2021, ISA has granted US$ 50,000 to solarise the Malawian Parliament building.

(iii) Triangular Cooperation: India had implemented two trilateral projects so far in Malawi with US and Germany on food security and women empowerment respectively.  Both these projects have been successful.  Under the trilateral project with US, around 120 Malawians have been trained at MANAGE, Hyderabad.  Similarly, under trilateral cooperation with Germany, 55 Malawian women and trainers were trained.  In December 2022, under this trilateral cooperation, first ever Agribusiness incubator model in Malawi for women empowerment has been set up. 

H. Cultural Relations : The High Commission of India in coordination with the Indian diaspora in Malawi celebrate most of the prominent Indian festivals where members of the diplomatic community and local Malawians are also invited. Mission also organizes events for specific states to showcase culture, language, traditions, music, tourism, cuisine, etc. specific to those states. Through Mission’s newsletters and social media handles, Indian cultural events and activities are widely publicized. In order to popularize the Indian culture, Mission has been arranging visit of ICCR troupes to Malawi. In past, troupes have visited in 2014, 2017, 2018. In September/October 2019, a 10 member Cultural Troupe from Gujarat visited Malawi and gave three performances in Lilongwe.

A 15-member Malawi Cultural Troupe was sponsored by Government of India to participate in the Suraj Kund Mela in 2020. A 14-member cultural troupe from Malawi also participated at the Surajkund Mela in February 2024.  Further, A 20-member cultural troupe from Malawi participated at the Surajkund Mela in February 2025. 

I. Indian Community: It is estimated that about 8,500 Persons of Indian origin live in Malawi who predominantly originated from Gujarat and are concentrated in important cities like Lilongwe, Blantyre, Limbe, Zomba and Mzuzu. The initial flow of Indians to Malawi was after Malawi became a British Protectorate in 1891. Indians were brought to Malawi/Mozambique for the Rail Project that was set up between Mozambique and Malawi. The number of Indian nationals (NRIs) at present is about 8,500, majority of them are from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, primarily engaged in trading, agriculture and agro business, pharmaceutical, hospitality, besides a few professionals.

There are about 15 Indian community associations in Malawi. High Commission keeps regular interaction with these Indian associations. All important information for the diaspora is disseminated through these associations and the members of the associations are invited on all official events organized by the High Commission, including the events related to development partnership initiatives of India in Malawi.

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June 2025