VISIT TO MALAWI BY BRITISH MINISTER, MR HENRY BELLINGHAM MP

UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Mr Henry Bellingham MP will visit Malawi from 15-17 July 2012. During the visit, Mr Bellingham will hold high level meetings with Her Excellency President Joyce Banda and senior figures from the private sector.

In a brief statement ahead of the visit, Mr Bellingham said:

"I am very much looking forward to my first visit to Malawi and to meeting Her Excellency President Joyce Banda on her one hundredth day in office. There is a long and deep friendship between the people of Britain and Malawi. We are committed to maintaining excellent relations with Malawi to serve the long term interests of both our countries".

Fast Facts

1. Mr Bellingham becomes the second UK Government Minister to visit Malawi since President Banda assumed office. The Secretary of State for International Development Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell visited Malawi in May 2012.
2. In June, the UK announced the appointment of Mr Michael Nevin as new British High Commissioner to Malawi. Mr Nevin takes up his appointment in September 2012.
3. The UK, through the Department for International Development (DFID) provides about £80 million support to Malawi each year to help implement the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS).
4. DFID has already disbursed £23 million since April this year to help fiscal stability and provide essential support to health, education and agriculture.