Abhay Kumar, India’s Ambassador to Madagascar and the Comoros, met with Madagascar Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and announced a humanitarian aid donation of 5,000 tonnes of rice to the island nation.
Rice shipment expected to reach by July
The rice shipment from India to Madagascar is expected to arrive in Tomasina, Madagascar, in July 2022. Abhay Kumar met Madagascar PM Ntsay on June 9 where they reviewed the progress made in bilateral ties between both the countries.
Previously, India donated 1,000 metric tonnes of rice to Madagascar in March 2021 for drought victims in the south of the country, and 600 tonnes of rice in March 2020 for flood victims in the north.
Bicycle donation to Madagascar
Recently, India also announced the donation of 15,000 bicycles to Madagascar on June 3, 2022, on the occasion of World Bicycle Day.
Policy towards Madagascar is guided by SAGAR
India’s policy towards Madagascar is guided by the collaborative maritime vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).
Madagascar joined the India-led Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) in April 2022 and had earlier supported India joining the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) as an observer in March 2020 and
the Djibouti Code of Conduct in August 2020.
Minister of National Defence of Madagascar participated in Aero India 2021
Minister of National Defence of Madagascar, Lt. General Rakotonirina Leon Jean Richard led a 4-member delegation to participate in Aero India 2021 and Indian Ocean Region (IOR) Defence Ministers’ Conclave in Bengaluru from February 3-5, 2021.
During the visit, the Malagasy Defence Minister held a bilateral meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed steps for further deepening defence cooperation between the two countries.
From September 19 to October 2, 2021, ten diplomats from Madagascar attended the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service’s 1st Special Course for Diplomats in the Indian Ocean Region.
