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{{Infobox bilateral relations|India–Malawi|India|Malawi}}
'''India–Malawi relations''' refers to the international relations that exist between [[India]] and [[Malawi]].

==History==
Trade relations between India and Malawi date back to the 18th century, when Indian tradesmen (mostly Gujaratis) arrived in Africa.<ref name="HCI commerce">{{cite web|title=Economical and Commercial|url=http://www.hcililongwe.in/hc.php?id=Economical|website=High Commission of India, Lilongwe|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref> India established diplomatic relations with Malawi in 1964, the year of the latter's independence. Indian Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] visited the country in 1964 to participate in Malawi's independence celebrations. The Indian diplomatic mission in Malawi was closed in May 1993, and India's interests in the country were transferred to the Indian embassy in Zambia.<ref name="MEADec2016">{{cite web|title=India - Malawi relations|url=https://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Malawi_relations_13_12_2016_.pdf|website=Ministry of External Affairs|access-date=1 January 2017|date=13 December 2016}}</ref>

Malawi opened its High Commission in New Delhi in February 2007. Several Malawian leaders have received their education from universities in India, including President [[Bingu wa Mutharika]] and Foreign Minister [[George Chaponda]].<ref name="MEADec2016"/> Mutharika secured a Bachelor of Commerce and a master's degree in economics from the University of Delhi in 1961 and 1963 respectively. During his state visit to India as President of Malawi, Mutharika was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters by his alma mater on 4 November 2010. Chaponda studied at the Delhi University between 1963 and 1968.<ref>{{cite web|title=India-Malawi Relations|url=https://mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Malawi_July_2014.pdf|website=Ministry of External Affairs|access-date=1 January 2017|date=July 2014}}</ref>

H. Kamutzu Banda, the first President of Malawi, visited India in 1983 to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. President Bingu wa Mutharika visited India on 2–7 November 2010. During the visit, the two sides signed a general co-operation agreement, as well as MoUs on cooperation covering the fields of mineral resources development, rural development, and health and medicine.<ref name="MEADec2016"/> During the visit, Indian Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]] announced that India would re-open its High Commission in Malawi in early 2012.<ref name="MEAJan2012">{{cite web|title=1India-Malawi Relation|url=https://mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Malawi-January-2012.pdf|website=Ministry of External Affairs|access-date=1 January 2017|date=January 2012}}</ref> The High Commission in Lilongwe was re-opened in February 2012. Vanlalhuma served as the first High Commissioner to Malawi from 21 June 2013 until 13 June 2016. Suresh Kumar Menon assumed office as the second High Commissioner to the country from 9 August 2016 to 31 January 2019.Anurag Bhusan served as the third High Commissioner from 6 July 2019 to 4 February 2021. S. Gopalakrishnan assumed office as the fourth High Commissioner of India to Malawi on 13 March 2021.<ref name="MEADec2016"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Reporter|first1=MBC|title=India to increase trade opportunities in Malawi|url=https://www.mbc.mw/index.php/component/k2/item/2874-india-to-increase-trade-opportunities-in-malawi|website=MBC Malawi|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref>

Indian Vice-President Hamid Ansari visited Malawi on 7–9 January 2010. During Ansari's visit the two countries signed agreements on cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors and development of small scale enterprises in Malawi. Two nations also agreed on a protocol of consultations between their respective foreign ministries.<ref name="MEADec2016"/><ref>{{cite book|last1=Edgar|first1=Thorpe|title=The Pearson General Knowledge Manual 2011|date=1 September 2011|publisher=Pearson Education India|isbn=9788131756409|page=D.20|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mHaYRoLuKBgC|access-date=1 January 2017|language=en}}</ref>

Malawi supports India in the [[Kashmir dispute]], supported India's position at the First Committee of the UN General Assembly regarding the nuclear tests in 1998, and also supports India's candidature for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.<ref name="MEAJan2012"/> Malawi also voted for India's election to the first [[United Nations Human Rights Council]] in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|last1=News|first1=Southern African|title=Malawi strengthens relations with India|url=http://southernafrican.news/2006/05/21/malawi-strengthens-relations-with-india/|website=Southern Times Africa|access-date=1 January 2017|date=21 May 2006|archive-date=2 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102171616/http://southernafrican.news/2006/05/21/malawi-strengthens-relations-with-india/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Following a meeting between India's Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprise [[G. M. Siddeshwara]] and Malawi President Peter Mutharika in July 2015, the latter praised relations between the two countries declaring that Malawi had benefited greatly from the relationship. Mutharika stated, "In 2008, we got a generous line of credit from the government of India to the tune of $163 million, which assisted us in areas of agriculture, petroleum storage tanks, sugar processing plant and capacity building. In 2010, we also got a credit of $5 million, which assisted us in areas of science and technology and the health care sector. We are very much appreciative of that."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Chimpweya|first1=James|title=Mutharika hails Malawi-India relations|url=http://mwnation.com/mutharika-hails-malawi-india-relations/|website=The Nation Online|access-date=1 January 2017|date=14 July 2015|archive-date=2 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002000453/https://mwnation.com/mutharika-hails-malawi-india-relations/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Economic relations==
===Trade===
India was Malawi's 3rd largest trading partner in 2015, after [[South Africa]] and [[China]]. India is the 4th largest source of imports to Malawi, and 7th largest destination for exports in 2015.<ref name="HCI commerce"/>

Bilateral trade between India and Malawi totaled US$250.80 million in 2014–15. India exported $214.02 million worth of goods to Malawi, and imported $36.78 million. The main commodities exported by India to Malawi are textile yarns, fabrics, transport equipment, pharmaceuticals, machinery and equipment. The major commodities imported by India from Malawi are pulses, chickpeas and other agricultural commodities.<ref name="MEADec2016"/>

Under a trade agreement signed between India and Malawi, both nations have accorded each other the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status.<ref>{{cite web|title=Malawi - India Relations|url=http://foreignaffairs.gov.mw/index.php/styles/bilateral-relations/asia/110-bilateral-relations/asia/158-malawi-india-relations|website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs|access-date=1 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911230037/http://foreignaffairs.gov.mw/index.php/styles/bilateral-relations/asia/110-bilateral-relations/asia/158-malawi-india-relations|archive-date=11 September 2016}}</ref> Malawi is also a beneficiary of India's [[Duty Free Tariff Preference]] (DFTP) scheme for Least Developed Countries (LDCs).<ref name="High Commission of Malawi">{{cite web|title=Malawi- India Bilateral Relations|url=http://www.malawi-india.org/the-embassy.html|website=High Commission of Malawi, New Delhi|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref> The DFTP scheme, introduced in April 2008, allows Malawi to export several commodities to India duty-free.<ref name="HCI commerce"/> The introduction of the DFTP scheme resulted in a massive 1,364.62% rise in Malawi's exports to India between 2008–09 and 2009–10. It also shifted the balance of trade in favour of Malawi for the first time in history,<ref>{{cite web|title=Trade between Malawi and India|url=http://www.malawi-india.org/trade-investment.html|website=High Commission of Malawi, New Delhi|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref> although the trade balance shifted back in favour of India in subsequent years.

===Investments===
Between 2005 and 2016, 96 Indian companies were registered in Malawi. Indian firms in the country are involved in agro processing, chemicals, energy, financial
services and insurance, food processing, information technology, software development, logistics, textile, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, cement, manufacturing, and the hospitality industry. Bharti Airtel, Tech Mahindra, Hi Tos Linear Agency Pvt Ltd, Weismann Ltd, TATA, Mahindra, Godrej, Kirloskar, Ashok Leyland, TVS, and Bajaj Auto, Tech Mahindra, L&T, Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd are some major Indian companies operating in the country. Dhunseri Petrochem & Tea Ltd (DPTL) invested in tea estates in Malawi in 2012.<ref name="MEADec2016"/>

The Malawi High Commission in New Delhi opened a business centre at the South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce in [[Surat]] on 16 October 2013, aiming to boost trade and investment from India in Malawi.<ref name="MEADec2016"/>

==Indian foreign aid==
India dispatched 1,000 [[metric tonnes]] of [[rice]] on 9 March 2026, from [[Jawaharlal Nehru Port|Nhava Sheva Port]] to support the drought affected communities in Malawi because of current worsening conditions in [[food security in Malawi]], reinforcing to commitment to food security and humanitarian assistance. This was done following the drought caused by the [[El Niño–Southern Oscillation|El Niño]] effect. In a social media post, [[Minister of External Affairs (India)|Indian External Affairs]]' spokesperson [[Randhir Jaiswal]] said that the consignment is a reiteration of India’s continued commitment to supporting partners in the [[Global South]] and advancing the spirit of [[South–South cooperation|South-South cooperation]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=India sends 1,000 metric tons of rice to Malawi to support food security amid El Nino drought |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/india-sends-1000-metric-tons-of-rice-to-malawi-to-support-food-security-amid-el-nino-drought/ |access-date=2026-03-10 |website=The Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

In 2009, India provided tractors, disc harrows, heavy earth moving machinery, graders, bull dozers and other equipment worth $22.91 million to the Government of Malawi.<ref>{{cite web|title=SUPPLY OF PVHO|url=http://www.hcililongwe.in/hc.php?id=PVHO|website=High Commission of India, Lilongwe|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref> India announced a $19.93 million project to construct cotton ginneries at Ngabu, Ngara and Balaka in 2009. The plants were opened in 2012 and transferred to the Government of Malawi. Each plant has an output of 250 bales (1 bale = 250 kg) of cotton per day.<ref>{{cite web|title=COTTON GINNING FACILITIES|url=http://www.hcililongwe.in/hc.php?id=Cotton|website=High Commission of India, Lilongwe|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref> India began construction of petrol and diesel fuel storage facilities at Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Blantyre in March 2013 at a cost of $26.75 million. The facilities were commissioned and transferred to Malawi in October 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=FUEL STORAGE FACILITIES|url=http://www.hcililongwe.in/hc.php?id=Fuel|website=High Commission of India, Lilongwe|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref>

India provided Malawi a grant of $5 million in January 2010. It also supplied science and laboratory equipment, and medical equipment worth $3 million to the Government of Malawi. $1 million of tractors and implements was gifted to Malawi in August 2015, and a grant of $1 million was provided to set up a Business Incubator Centre in Malawi. India donated $1 million worth of essential medicines on 1 July 2015 towards disaster relief operations, and also donated medicines and tent ridges to the Malawi Department of Disaster Management in September 2016. The Indian government provided another $1 million grants in response to State of Disaster declared by the President of Malawi in 2016.<ref name = "MEADec2016"/>

India spent $8.46 million to construct dal processing plants in Liwonde and Luchenza. Construction on the plants began and in September 2015, and both were commissioned by July 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=DAL PROCESSING PLANT|url=http://www.hcililongwe.in/hc.php?id=Dal|website=High Commission of India, Lilongwe|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref> The country spent $33.64 million to construct a sugar processing plant in Salima, the sugarcane producing district of Malawi. Construction of the Salima Sugar plant began in March 2013 and was completed in October 2015. The plant consumes 1250 metric tons of sugarcane in 8 hours of operations. In the first two months since operations began, the plant produced 300 tons of sugar.<ref>{{cite web|title=SUGAR PROCESSING FACILITIES|url=http://www.hcililongwe.in/hc.php?id=Sugar|website=High Commission of India, Lilongwe|access-date=1 January 2017}}</ref>

Citizens of Malawi are eligible for scholarships under the [[Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme]] and the [[Indian Council for Cultural Relations]]. India has also transferred technology to Malawi under the ITEC programme.<ref name="High Commission of Malawi"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Mvona|first1=Ralphael|title=Malawian students get India scholarships|url=http://www.capitalradiomalawi.com/index.php/component/k2/item/1465-malawian-students-get-india-scholarships|website=Capital Radio Malawi|access-date=1 January 2017|archive-date=2 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102082134/http://www.capitalradiomalawi.com/index.php/component/k2/item/1465-malawian-students-get-india-scholarships|url-status=dead}}</ref>

India is a preferred destination for Malawians seeking medical treatment. Indian hospitals such as Artemis Hospital in Gurgaon, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital & Medical Research Institute and Fortis Hospitals have introduced specific arrangements to cater to citizens of Malawi.<ref name = "MEADec2016"/>

==Indians in Malawi==
The initial Indian migration to Malawi began after the latter became a British colony in 1891. The British transported Indians to Malawi and Mozambique to work on a rail project between the two African nations.<ref name="MEADec2016"/>

As of December 2016, 8,000 persons of Indian origin reside in Malawi, most of whom are of Gujarati origin. They primarily reside in cities such as Lilongwe, Blantyre, Zomba and Mzuzu. Most members of the Indian community that have lived in the country for more than one generation hold British citizenship. Indian citizens in the country are primarily engaged in trading, agriculture and agro business, pharmaceuticals, and the retail and hospitality industries.<ref name="MEADec2016"/>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Foreign relations of India}}
{{Foreign relations of Malawi}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:India-Malawi relations}}
[[Category:India–Malawi relations| ]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of Malawi|India]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of India|Malawi]]
[[Category:India–Africa relations|Malawi]]
[[Category:Malawi and the Commonwealth of Nations]]

India–Malawi relations - Revision history

All Singers Music Production: Starting new entry from scratch