President Dr Lazarus Chakwera, has hailed the newly signed framework agreement on labour export to Israel, saying it will positively benefit the country’s youth.
Speaking at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Monday during a meeting with Israel’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sharren Haskel, President Chakwera stated that the deal marks a new chapter in Malawi-Israel relations.
President Chakwera also commended the Government of Israel for partnering with Malawi in creating job opportunities abroad through the agreement.
He emphasized that it is a timely response to the aspirations of young Malawians seeking employment elsewhere.
“I am pleased with the progress made in implementing the labour export agreement. It is a testament to the strong and growing relations between our two countries,” Chakwera said.
Dr Chakwera added the programme will enhance the creation of employment opportunities for the youth, particularly in sectors like agriculture and health where Israel has demonstrated remarkable capacity and innovation.
In her remarks, Haskel reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to Malawi’s development agenda, stating that the labour agreement is just one of many programmes to be implemented to deepen cooperation.
“We want this to be more than just labour migration. We want to empower individuals with skills and experiences that they can bring back to Malawi. This is a people-to-people partnership, not just a government-to-government transaction,” she said.
The meeting winded up with with a commitment to further strengthen bilateral ties and to use the labour framework as a springboard for broader socio-economic cooperation between Malawi and Israel.
Malawi and Israel have had a long-standing relationship, with diplomatic ties established as far back as July 1964.
