Egypt has proposed establishing a direct flight route between Cairo and Lilongwe and offered to involve Egyptian firms in the rehabilitation of Malawi's Kamuzu International Airport, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Saturday. In a meeting with Malawian Foreign Minister George Chaponda on the sidelines of the Russian-African Ministerial Forum, Abdelatty discussed boosting economic cooperation through a potential trade mechanism to exchange Egyptian fertilisers for Malawian commodities. Abdelatty, who congratulated Chaponda on his October 2025 appointment, emphasised Egypt's commitment to supporting the new Malawian government's development plans. He called for an immediate round of political consultations to pave the way for the first meeting of a High Joint Committee between the two nations. The Egyptian minister urged the Egyptian private sector to take a larger role in the Malawian market, specifically targeting opportunities in mining, renewable energy, infrastructure, and the construction of hydroelectric dams. He noted that Malawi's decision to open its mining sector to foreign investment provides a significant opening for enhanced bilateral cooperation. The talks also focused on the agricultural and health sectors. Abdelatty welcomed Malawi's request to benefit from Egyptian expertise in modern irrigation methods and agriculture. He further expressed Egypt's intent to provide high-quality, competitively priced pharmaceutical products to Malawi and promote Egypt as a destination for medical tourism. On security and capacity building, Abdelatty highlighted the success of the first two meetings of the Joint Military Committee. He confirmed that the Egyptian Agency for Partnership for Development would continue to provide training and build the capabilities of Malawian cadres across various sectors. Addressing continental issues, Abdelatty stressed that reforms to African Union institutions must be "methodical, gradual, and clear." He stated that such reforms should be inclusive of all member states to ensure the union can perform its duties effectively. Both ministers exchanged views on establishing peace and security across the African continent.
