Indian leader after Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to visit Malawi.

Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari visited southern African nation Malawi from 7January 2010 to 9 January 2010.The visit was a part of his three nation tour which included Zambia and Botswana besides Malawi. Hamid Ansari headed the Indian delegation while Malawian Vice President Joyce Banda led the delegation of Malawi. Hamid Ansari was the second Indian leader after Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to visit Malawi.

Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika got masters and graduation degree from Delhi University.
During this visit, India and Malawi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 9 January 2010. MoU included three agreements:
1.    Foreign office consultations
2.    Cooperation in Agriculture
3.    Small Enterprises
 India provided one million U.S. dollars as a relief and rehabilitation package for a series of earthquakes happened in Karonga District of Malawi. Besides, India extended 4 million U.S. dollars for development projects of Malawi in agriculture, health and education sectors. India also gave Malawi 50 million U.S. dollars on credit as a part of the commitment India made to Malawi during Indo Africa forum summit held in 2008 in New Delhi. Indian development aid reached Malawi through the Exim Bank, Indian Technical and Cooperation Programme and the commonwealth African assistance plan. In 2008, India donated 30 million U.S. dollars to Malawi for irrigation, grain storage and tobacco thrashing projects.

The two parties signed protocol for consultations between external affairs ministries of India and Malawi. The two nations agreed for cooperation between National small industries corporation of India and one village one product of Malawi for the development of small industries in Malawi.

 India granted Malawi duty free access on various products under the duty free tariff preference scheme for least developed countries announced at Indo African summit 2009 held in New Delhi.

The two parties agreed to expedite negotiations to finalise proposed Memorandum of Understanding on mineral resources mainly uranium besides coal and wind. Malawi sought India’s assistance in developing its mineral resources mainly Uranium and Coal.  The discovery of uranium in Malawi attracted world attention towards the nation. The production of Uranium is still in the early stage. Paladin energy of Australia started production at the Kayelekara mine only in September 2009.

 Malawi is important for India because of uranium resources it has. Due to lack of sufficient resources of Uranium India needs to import it from other countries to carry out its nuclear energy programme. Growing energy demands have made India to explore options In Malawi.