President Dr Lazarus Chakwera continues to drum up support for the development of the country’s rail infrastructure, recognising its potential to revolutionise the transportation sector through reduced costs, especially when moving cargo.
Speaking during discussions with executives from the All American Rail Group (AARG), a consortium specialising in rail, infrastructure and agriculture projects across the United States and Africa, Chakwera underlined the transformative impact of an enhanced rail network.
“A better rail network will help us reduce transport costs, lower commodity prices, and increase profits for our producers,” said Dr Chakwera on the sidelines of the US-Africa Summit in Dallas, Texas.
Chakwera said since he became President, revamping Malawi’s railway network has been a top priority for his administration and that it was pleasing that AARG executives had shown interest to invest in that sector.
“My administration is incentivizing commercial farming to bring idle land back into production through the mega farm initiative. We need local and international markets for these crops and a functional railway system is necessary,” he said.
Established in November 2022, the AARG Consortium comprises globally recognised firms specialising in railway design, engineering, construction and management.
With a substantial turnover exceeding $19.7 billion over the past five years and a proven track record of managing significant projects across continents, AARG brings invaluable expertise to Malawi’s rail development ambitions.
By Mirriam Kaliza
