KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 (Bernama) -- The Africa Day 2024 is celebrated in Malaysia this year with the theme “Promoting Africa-Malaysia Trade and Investment Opportunities” which aims to introduce the Africa of today that is rising and offering various investment opportunities to the world.
Acting dean of the African Heads of Mission in Malaysia, David E. Malcomson, who is also the South Africa’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, said the old narrative on Africa during the 1980s where the continent is labelled as hopeless and a place for war, disease and crime must be changed.
“Knowledge about Africa among Malaysians is still relatively low. People must forget the image of Africa in the past. Now, it is time to focus on the new Africa.
“Malaysia and Africa are relevant to each other in a strategic way, especially when Malaysia is chairing the ASEAN bloc next year,” he said when met at his office on Tuesday in conjunction with the Africa Day celebration tomorrow.
According to Malcomson, African countries now aim to promote various investment opportunities among Malaysians, especially in education, tourism, skills development and the digital technology.
He said the 61st Africa Day celebration is in time with the announcement made by AirAsia X on Monday on the direct air connectivity between Kuala Lumpur and Nairobi, Kenya, beginning Nov 15.
Other Africans airlines which flies direct to Kuala Lumpur are Air Mauritius and Ethiopian Airlines, which flies from Addis Ababa.
South African is also making an effort to bring back its direct flight to Kuala Lumpur, he added.
The Africa Day is an annual commemoration of the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity formed on May 25 1963. It was later transformed into the African Union on July 9, 2002.
This occasion is dedicated towards celebrating Africa’s achievements and opportunities, while reflecting on the challenges and solutions to pertinent issues, including the attainment of peace, security and development of the continent.
Asked on why the Africa Day in Malaysia is only celebrated in July, he said it is not easy to gather all the 19 Africans envoys at one time.
Besides South Africa, Africa Day is also celebrated by 18 other missions in Malaysia, namely Algeria, Egypt, Eswatini, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The Africa Day celebration tomorrow will include food, music and cultural performances from the 19 African countries.
-- BERNAMA
