New Norwegian High Commissioner Pledges Long-Term Bilateral Relations between Norway and Malawi
Written by Innocent Nazombe on September 8, 2022
Norwegian Ambassador presenting letters of credence
By Esther Banda
Ms. Ingrid Marie Mikelsen, the Norwegian High Commissioner, presented her letters of credence to President Lazarus Chakwera on September 8, 2022, at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.
Ms. Mikelsen has stated that Norway is a long-term partner in attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and aligning their priorities with Malawi as set out in Malawi Vision 2063.
The new Norway envoy to Malawi expressed her delight and honour at being appointed High Commissioner to further develop the relations between the two countries.
“Norway supports the Malawi’s ambition of MW2063. We are looking forward to further develop the relations between our two countries and we are really pleased to see the effects by the Government of Malawi to fight Corruption which we think is harmful to development. Norway will continue to promote equal rights for all including the protection of women and children against violence and discrimination,” she explained.
Furthermore, the Ambassador was pleased to mention the signing ceremony of Mpatamanga Hydro Power Project where the Norwegian Development Finance Institution (Norfund) is one of the financiers.
“We hope that this project will result in good benefits for all the people of Malawi and also help address the serious energy crisis that Malawi is currently facing,” she said.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nancy Tembo, stated in her remarks that the appointment of the new Norwegian envoy to Malawi, within a very short time, shows the strong bond of friendship that is there between Malawi and Norway.
Tembo stated that so much work has been done in this country with the support of Norway and it’s their sincere hope that the friendship between the two countries will continue to grow.
“Norway is here as a strong partner. We look back where we are coming from and we are very hopeful that this bond of friendship will continue to strengthen,” she said.
Diplomatic relations between Malawi and Norway were established in 1964 and Royal Norwegian Embassy in Lilongwe was opened in 1999 with a resident Ambassador.
