Various Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) were signed in the presence of the Charge d Affaires of the Madagascar Embassy Tsiory Adriamparaniarivo, who was accompanied by his Spouse and the President of the Indian Economic Trade Organization Dr Asif Iqbal, and the Head of Brand Secretariat, Ministry of External Affairs Dr Venkatachalam Murugan IFS.
The event was attended by the Coimbatore business community. The Chairman of the Kathir Group of Institutions welcomed the team from the Embassy of Madagascar and pledged the two countries' commitment to a strong partnership. Madagascar piques India's interest as a country with significant potential for bilateral trade in the MSME, Pharma, Fishing, Aquaculture, and Manufacturing sectors.
This collaboration will also be useful for identifying business partners, collaborations, alliances, establishing industrial units, displaying Indian products and services, and other related business activities, as well as bringing issues to the attention of relevant authorities. Madagascar is the Indian Ocean's largest and most populous island. The event's chief guest, Dr Venkatachalam Murugan of the Ministry of External Affairs, emphasised the importance of strengthening and deepening bilateral relations through India's economic diplomacy.
He also stated that he was one of the officials who accompanied then-Indian President Ram Nath Kovind to Madagascar in March 2018. This was a historic visit in the sense that no high-level Indian visit had previously occurred. Two bilateral agreements in the field of defence cooperation and an amendatory air services agreement were signed during the visit. Ministerial visits from Madagascar have been scheduled at regular intervals.
The Madagascar Trade Commission in Coimbatore will make every effort to capitalize on the two countries' Economic Cooperation Agreement by organising various activities to educate and create a conducive business environment among the Indian SME Investor Sector for better business growth and investment promotion. According to the Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of Madagascar, global trade relations are critical, and the development of trade relations between India and Madagascar is encouraging.
"As President of the organisation, my goal is to deepen and diversify the relationship by identifying new synergetic areas for cooperation and collaboration, especially after the establishment of new trade mechanisms between our countries for trade and commerce," said E.S. Kathir, who is looking to connect companies for business in Madagascar. The Indian delegation will look into opportunities in contractual farming, the poultry industry, meat processing, and agricultural collaborations, as well as other ways to meet the country's infrastructure needs.
The Charge d'Affaires of the Madagascar embassy also expressed strong interest in bolstering bilateral trade relations and invited the business community to investigate all available options for investors. Since before independence, India and Madagascar have had warm and friendly relations. Madagascar's Foreign Minister, Richard Randriamandrato, arrived in India for the first time to attend the 7th edition of the Raisina Dialogue, which will be held in New Delhi from April 25-27, 2022. During the visit, the Minister met with the Prime Minister of India and the EAM of India.
The meeting focused on moving India and Madagascar's development partnership forward, with a focus on food and health security, capability building, and the digital domain. From 10 to 14 December 2019, an Indian naval delegation visited the marine fusilier training centre in Diego, Antsiranana for a special commando training of the Malagasy armed forces and marine commandos. From 14 to 27 March 2021, a 5-member Indian Navy Mobile Training Team to train the Malagasy Special Forces provided 14-day training to 50 Malagasy trainees.
It was established in this manner to improve the relationship between India and Madagascar, as well as to gain superiority in trade and industry," said Prof Dr Ranganathan, the Honorary Consul of Myanmar in Tamilnadu. Founder Chairman E.S. Kathir of the college was appointed as the Trade Commissioner to promote better relations between India and Madagascar as part of the ceremony and was presented with a certificate from the Ministry of MSME, Government of India. This was attended by a large number of professors and students from the Department of External Relations.
