Mutharika likens Malawi economy to ‘Asian Tigers'

“Following the footpaths of the ‘Asian Tigers'...we have launched our country on the road from poverty to prosperity,” he said referring to these countries which experienced fast galloping economic growth rates in the 1980s and 90s.

He said Malawi's economic growth is ‘a true economic miracle' citing its average growth rate of 7% registered since 2005.

He said the new posture his government has taken has won the country development partners' confidence which was lost in the old regime due to economic plunder and now the aid inflows have increased from K28bn in 2004 to K90bn in 2008.

Budget deficits have also reduced to 3% in 2008 from 7.8% in 2004, he said.

The president, who acknowledged that the world financial crunch remains the country's main challenge, assured country folks that his government will do all it can to protect itself from the crisis.

He said Malawi will implement broad-based and holistic strategies to respond to the crisis besides minimising the effects on the economy.

“We will continue to build on the strong economic foundation we have already down and maintain sustainable economic growth...” he said.