China has officially handed over the K24 billion kwacha Presidential Hotel, International Conference Centre and Presidential Villas to Malawi government.

Chinese Ambassador to Malawi, Pan Hujen handed over the magnificent complex to Malawi Monday in Lilongwe.

In an interview soon after the official handover ceremony Monday, Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mr. Sidik Mia, was over the moon.

“Now we can be proud to host major international conference in the country. Previously, we couldn’t dare do that, said the Minister of Transport and Public Works.

The Minister says with the massive complex Malawi can now afford to host international conferences.

On his part, Minister of Tourism, Daniel Liwimbi said recent research findings show that Meetings, Incentives, Conference, and Events is high-yield growing segment globally, and a main source of high spend tourists to the SADC region.

“Currently, the tourism industry only generates about 8% of the country’s GDP, yet it has the potential to do more, said Liwimbi.

The Chinese Ambassador to Malawi, Pan Hujen, says the complex symbolises what he called strong Malawi-China relationship.