Maxx Royal Resort in Antalya, Türkyie on March 2, 2024. On the sidelines of the 3rd Diplomatic Forum, the meeting between the President of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, and the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, took place today.
Madagascar is one of the countries to which the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, gave particular importance during this 3rd Antalya Diplomatic Forum. Indeed, President Andry Rajoelina was one of only three Heads of State received by the Turkish President today. He personally congratulated President Andry Rajoelina on his re-election as head of the Malagasy nation for the next five years.
President Erdoğan was surrounded by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Defense Minister Yasar Guler, Communications Director of the Turkish Presidency Fahrettin Altun and President Erdoğan’s Senior Advisor Akif Cagatay Kilic
The Malagasy President, for his part, reiterated the congratulations he had already addressed to the President Erdoğanthe day after his re-election in May 2023.
This high-level meeting between the two presidents focused on strengthening cooperation between the two countries, preceded by a working meeting between President Andry Rajoelina and the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan.
Many areas of cooperation were discussed by the two sides during this meeting. Such as: the Commerce and Business sector; construction of roads and infrastructure; the Tourism sector and the construction of related infrastructure such as large hotel complexes intended to accommodate foreign tourists; the mining sector; Agriculture; Fisheries, but especially Defense and National Security as well as military strategic aspects.
Turkey is among the most powerful countries from a military point of view. This is why a military and security cooperation agreement was planned to be signed between the Large Island in the Indian Ocean and Turkey. In this context, President Erdoğan announced that he will immediately give instructions to his Minister of National Defense to begin negotiations with Malagasy officials to implement this cooperation project.
Statements by President Erdogan: ” There are many areas of cooperation between Türkiye and Madagascar, especially the economy. It is in the interest of both countries to continue their efforts to develop these areas.”.
For his part, President Rajoelina stressed that his country is open to any cooperation and recalled that Turkey is one of the leading nations in which Madagascar trusts, and which will be able to bring its experience and expertise to the implementation implementation of the main lines of the general development policy of the State or the general state policy of the Malagasy government -PGE-.
The construction of the new town in Imerintsiatosika was discussed at this meeting. It should be remembered that 90% of construction and infrastructure materials in Madagascar come from Turkey. President Andry Rajoelina was able to convince President Erdoğan of the existence of many investment sectors in Madagascar. The objective is to encourage Turkish businessmen to invest in Madagascar. The Turks, wishing to strengthen their cooperation with Madagascar, it was discussed to establish relations between businessmen of the two countries.
This meeting between the two presidents in Antalya marked the start of serious and long-term cooperation between Madagascar and Turkey. Both sides have expressed their willingness to move forward, and President Erdoğan is convinced that Madagascar has many resources to develop the country by establishing mutually beneficial or “win-win” cooperation.
As a sign of mutual trust, and to facilitate the implementation of all the ideas and projects discussed during this meeting, President Erdoğan expressed his wish for the establishment of a Malagasy embassy in his country. It was then decided that it could be created in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. In the same vein, an office of TIKA (Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency) will be set up in Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar.
One of the highlights of this official meeting was the signing of an economic and commercial cooperation agreement between Madagascar and Turkey. This signing ceremony was carried out by the Malagasy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Rasata Rafaravavitafika, and the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hakan Fidan, in the presence of the two presidents, Andry Rajoelina and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
This agreement provides for the creation of a special commission responsible for strengthening trade relations between the two countries, commonly known as the Joint Economic Commission.
In the near future, the Turkish government will send a list of Turkish businessmen who can cooperate and help Madagascar in the realization of the new city located in Imerintsiatosika, thus demonstrating that the cooperation between the two countries will be strong and serious and that this very high-level working meeting, was fruitful.
Jeannot RAMAMBAZAFY
Sources: Malagasy and Turkish presidencies