Lilongwe, Malawi: Indian President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Malawi on Thursday for a historic state visit, marking the first-ever by an Indian head of state to the southern African nation. She was greeted at the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe by Malawi's Vice President Dr. Michael Usi, in a ceremony reflecting the significance of the occasion.

This visit is the second leg of President Murmu's three-nation tour of Africa. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, announced on X that President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Lilongwe, Malawi today. Vice President Dr. Michael Usi warmly welcomed and ceremonially received her.

During her visit, President Murmu will engage in high-level meetings, including a one-on-one with Malawi's President. She will also address a business event and meet with the Indian diaspora in the country, focusing on strengthening economic and cultural ties between the two nations.

India and Malawi are set to sign three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) during the visit, focusing on youth affairs, sports, and cultural exchange. This underscores the commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation between the two countries. President Murmu will depart for India on October 19.

President Murmu's visit to Malawi follows a successful visit to Mauritania, where she met with President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani and signed four MoUs. These agreements aim to bolster diplomatic ties through cooperation in areas like diplomat training, cultural exchange, visa exemption, and Foreign Office consultations.

The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted the multifaceted collaboration between India and Mauritania, spanning sectors like health, education, trade, capacity building, and cultural and people-to-people ties.

Addressing the Indian community in Mauritania, President Murmu emphasized India's vision for the future, stating, "India is moving towards the goal of 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047, and our diaspora family plays a vital role in achieving this ambition."