Jack McConnell visited the Henry Henderson Institute in Malawi

Mr McConnell, who was honoured and made a Malawian chief on Wednesday, made the announcement on the third day of his ministerial visit to the country.

He said Scotland would do everything it could to promote the country to the world and improve its situation.

He said it was Scotland's duty to "put something back" on a global scale.

Speaking after a visit to the Henry Henderson Institute Primary, which was built by Scots in 1909, Mr McConnell spoke of his determination to improve Malawi's international profile.

We have a role to play and this week has been a good start towards building the kind of partnerships that can result in practical support from Scotland Jack McConnell First Minister

He said: "I want Malawi to be a household name in Scotland in the same way Scotland is a household name here in Malawi.

"But I also want us to be serious about our international obligations.

"We've got a duty to put something back into our international relationships and that is why this contribution, building a partnership with Malawi, a small country that needs our help, is very important.

"Aid and foreign relations generally are reserved to the Westminster Parliament and the UK Government but that doesn't absolve the rest of us in our country of some responsibility.

The G8 Summit at Gleneagles has a central part to play in African aid

"We have a role to play and this week has been a good start towards building the kind of partnerships that can result in practical support from Scotland."

The Scottish leader also explained how Scotland must make itself part of an overall approach by the international community and how the upcoming G8 summit at Gleneagles would have an integral part to play in this.

He said: "I think one of the things the G8 summit needs to do is ensure that all of the issues are addressed - not just aid, debt and trade, not just education and health, but the issue of governance too.

"This requires a comprehensive approach, there is no one solution. And that is why the summit is so important because the summit has to put together a comprehensive plan."

Chief honour

Mr McConnell was visiting the Montfort College in Limbe and its education centre for the blind.

The college has a partnership with Strathclyde University, which has provided computer software and hardware to help the training of teachers working with visually-impaired children.

Earlier in the day, the Labour MSP was made a chief in the synod of Blantyre, which covers about half of the African country.

Jack McConnell was made a chief in the synod of Blantyre in Malawi

The honour hands him the power to exercise authority over anyone entering the region and was granted in recognition of Scotland's efforts to assist the country.

To symbolise his new authority, Mr McConnell was presented with a traditional black cane.

The first minister's tour is geared towards improving relations between Scotland and the African country by developing aid projects.

On Tuesday, he announced �120,000 funding to help train 300 medical workers in Malawi.

Scotland's aid capacity is fairly limited and the Scottish Executive wants to focus on Malawi, which has historic ties to Scotland through David Livingstone and the Kirk.