BLANTYRE, Malawi, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Malawi's President Peter Mutharika on Wednesday outlined short- and long-term government strategies here to increase the southeast African country's energy supply and attract foreign direct investment (FDI).

Mutharika made the remarks in the country's largest city and commercial center Blantyre, which is located in the south. The president came here to commission imported electricity generators.

Malawi has recently suffered halts of power supply as a result of reduced levels in the country's Shire River, which supplies hydropower to the whole country.

Mutharika said Malawi needs a vibrant private sector to help the country grow economically through FDI, and that the country's economic development needs a reliable energy sector.

"Our dream is to end poverty and our main goal is to make Malawi a big economy," he said.

"But in order for us to develop our economy we need to have enough energy ... and we need investors," he said.

Mutharika also said he hoped that a dynamic private sector would create more jobs and help boost the country's manufacturing and exports.