About Us Speeches

Speech by H.E Naina ANDRIATSITOHAINA, Foreign Minister of Madagascar, on the occasion of the 73rd Independence Day Celebrations of India in Antananarivo, Madagascar

Posted on: August 16, 2019 | Back | Print

Excellency Ambassador of India, Abhay KUMAR

Dear Heads of Institutions

Dear Ministers, dear colleagues

Excellency the Dean of Diplomatic Corps

Members of Diplomatic and consular Corps

Dear representatives of International and regional Organizations

Specialized institutions of United Nations,

Government agencies

Civil and Military career dignitaries

Honorable guests

Ladies and gentlemen

 

It is a great pleasure and an honour to take the floor today when the Republic of India celebrates its 73 Independence Day.

The date of August 15 draws its importance from the restoration of pride of a whole people after more than two centuries of colonial rule. This date is also reminiscent of the struggle of Mahatma Gandhi, an apostle of "non-violence" whose wisdom precepts continue to inspire us. I like to use his words "Be the change that you wish to see in the world". We also want to embody the change that we want to see happening in Madagascar.

Also, on behalf of Mr. Andry Nirina RAJOELINA, President of the Republic of Madagascar, the Government and the Malagasy people, I would like to congratulate the Indian people on this day when they rejoice in the long journey they have undertaken so far and which has been marked by immense social, political, economic and technological progress.

Indians have built the largest democracy in the world. They gained food self-sufficiency for nearly 1 billion inhabitants, thanks to the green revolution that they were able to initiate in the 1960s.

India today can be proud to be the 4th world space power. And it has gained unquestioned expertise in the fields of education, medicine, electronics, software where the excellence of Indian programmers is world famous.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In terms of bilateral cooperation, I am pleased to recall that India has worked with the Government of Madagascar to create prosperity, increase trade, promote economic growth and train young people and Malagasy executives, thanks to the ITEC program through which hundreds of executives have benefited from training in India.

Bilateral relations between India and Madagascar have recently been boosted by the official visit of His Excellency Ram Nath Kovind, President of the Republic of India to Madagascar in 2018.

Like the CGARD, a project of direct application in the field of agriculture, Madagascar wishes to receive the support of India for other key projects such as the acquisition of infrastructure for e-governance , the promotion of peasant farming, the popularization of solar energy, and the development of higher education in the field of science, technology and engineering.

In this regard, Mr. Ambassador, the Malagasy Government welcomes the new dynamism of the bilateral cooperation that you have instilled since taking office on May 15, marked in particular by the diversification of projects. On this point, I have the immense conviction that your mission in Madagascar will contribute to the materialization of the Emergence Policy initiated by President RAJOELINA.

Excellency,

If I had to award the palm of the most dynamic ambassador, the most innovative, the most persevering, it would certainly be you. Unfortunately, it will not be possible and politically not acceptable.  Especially vis-à-vis your colleagues. The impulse you gave to the relation between our two nations generates an extraordinary acceleration in our cooperation.

I would like to thank the Embassy of India for facilitating the arrival of Ambassador Kishan Rana in Madagascar at the official launch of the activities of the new Center for Strategic Studies and Analysis of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And I would like to thank you for the forthcoming visit of Professor C. Raja Mohan, strategy expert in October, who will address the conference and will have meetings with senior Malagasy officials on the various issues in the Indian Ocean.

Excellency, ladies and gentlemen,

Madagascar and India share a common ocean to the point that we are talking about neighborhood ties rather than conventional bilateral relations. It is vital to strengthen our partnership for a peaceful and prosperous maritime environment. Given the immense economic opportunities that the Indian Ocean offers, there are many challenges. These include the securing of maritime space and the efficient but rational exploitation of fisheries resources.

Madagascar is initiating a strategic reorientation of its cooperation towards the emerging countries to which India is a part and it would like to develop investment through joint ventures in sectors such as textile, agro-food, manufacturing of small agricultural tools, Cement and ICT service industries

To support its development, Madagascar must take advantage of all the opportunities offered to it. First, those stemming from close regional cooperation, such as the Indian Ocean Commission. The opportunities of the African continent, where we must take the place that is due to us. But also and especially to turn our eyes towards the East. And India is the ideal ally on which we can and must rely.

Excellency the Ambassador,

Madagascar is firmly determined to take its destiny into its own hands. With the will and the helping hands of all, especially that of India, we are deeply convinced that Madagascar will emerge from poverty, which Mahatma Gandhi has called "the worst form of violence".

I would like to close my address by reiterating my best wishes  for the cooperation between India and Madagascar as well as all my wishes for prosperity, happiness and well-being for all the Indian people and the Indian community in Madagascar, "Jai Hind! ".