International Monetary Fund Managing
Director, Christine Lagarde, would not have visited Malawi at a better time than
this.
Her two day official stay in the
country will cement the relations that have been mended over the past months
after the previous regime strained them by being in confrontation with the
country’s traditional partners, Britain and USA.
Lagarde’s visit displays the
commitment that IMF has in ensuring that Malawi remains on track in economic reforms
that will translate into economic growth in months and years to come.
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| President Joyce Banda has taken the right course in her reforms in line with IMF requirements |
According to Finance Minister, Ken
Lipenga, the visit is an opportunity for Malawi to share some of the social and
economic challenges the country is facing such as shortages of forex and
erratic supply of fuel.
Government will also share with the Director, the details of the Economic Recovery Plan (ERP) which was put in place to address some of these challenges and bring the economy back on track.
She will be hosted by the country’s Head of State, Her Excellency President Joyce Banda.
Her visit brings together two of the world’s most powerful women as the two appear in the 2012 Forbes World’s Most Powerful Women while President Joyce Banda is 2012 Forbes Africa’s most powerful Woman among her many accolades and recognitions.
Apart from the bilateral talks, Largade will visit some of the EU – funded projects including Micro loan projects and roads.
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| Her visit is of great assurance to Malawians |
Biography- (From her Facebook Profile)
Born in Paris in 1956, Christine
Lagarde completed high school in Le Havre and attended Holton Arms School in
Bethesda (Maryland, USA). She then graduated from law school at University
Paris X, and obtained a Master’s degree from the Political Science Institute in
Aix en Provence.
After being admitted as a lawyer to the Paris Bar, Christine Lagarde joined the international law firm of Baker & McKenzie as an associate, specializing in Labor, Anti-trust, and Mergers & Acquisitions. A member of the Executive Committee of the Firm in 1995, Christine Lagarde became the Chairman of the Global Executive Committee of Baker & McKenzie in 1999, and subsequently Chairman of the Global Strategic Committee in 2004.
Christine Lagarde joined the French government in June 2005 as Minister for Foreign Trade. After a brief stint as Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, in June 2007 she became the first woman to hold the post of Finance and Economy Minister of a G-7 country. From July to December 2008, she also chaired the ECOFIN Council, which brings together Economics and Finance Ministers of the European Union.
As a member of the G-20, Christine Lagarde was involved in the Group's management of the financial crisis, helping to foster international policies related to financial supervision and regulation and to strengthen global economic governance. As Chairman of the G-20 when France took over its presidency for the year 2011, she launched a wide-ranging work agenda on the reform of the international monetary system.
In 2009, Christine Lagarde was ranked the 17th most influential woman in the world by Forbes magazine, the 5th best European executive woman by The Wall Street Journal Europe, and became one of Time magazine’s top-100 world leaders. The Financial Times named her European Finance Minister of 2009.
Christine Lagarde was named Chevalier in the Légion d'honneur in July 2000.
A former member of the French national team for synchronized swimming, Christine Lagarde is the mother of two sons.
After being admitted as a lawyer to the Paris Bar, Christine Lagarde joined the international law firm of Baker & McKenzie as an associate, specializing in Labor, Anti-trust, and Mergers & Acquisitions. A member of the Executive Committee of the Firm in 1995, Christine Lagarde became the Chairman of the Global Executive Committee of Baker & McKenzie in 1999, and subsequently Chairman of the Global Strategic Committee in 2004.
Christine Lagarde joined the French government in June 2005 as Minister for Foreign Trade. After a brief stint as Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, in June 2007 she became the first woman to hold the post of Finance and Economy Minister of a G-7 country. From July to December 2008, she also chaired the ECOFIN Council, which brings together Economics and Finance Ministers of the European Union.
As a member of the G-20, Christine Lagarde was involved in the Group's management of the financial crisis, helping to foster international policies related to financial supervision and regulation and to strengthen global economic governance. As Chairman of the G-20 when France took over its presidency for the year 2011, she launched a wide-ranging work agenda on the reform of the international monetary system.
In 2009, Christine Lagarde was ranked the 17th most influential woman in the world by Forbes magazine, the 5th best European executive woman by The Wall Street Journal Europe, and became one of Time magazine’s top-100 world leaders. The Financial Times named her European Finance Minister of 2009.
Christine Lagarde was named Chevalier in the Légion d'honneur in July 2000.
A former member of the French national team for synchronized swimming, Christine Lagarde is the mother of two sons.
