Japan-Madagascar Relations

April 28, 2024
Japanese
Minister Kamikawa shaking hands with President Rajoelina
Photo of the Courtesy Call

On April 28, commencing at 2: 20 p.m. local time (April 28, 8:20 p.m. JST) for approximately 40 minutes, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting the Republic of Madagascar, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Andry Nirina RAJOELINA, President of the Republic of Madagascar. The overview of the courtesy call is as follows.

  1. Initial Remarks
    1. At the outset, Minister Kamikawa stated that she was pleased to visit Madagascar for the first time as the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and expressed her gratitude to President Rajoelina for his message of sympathy following the damage caused by the recent Noto peninsula earthquake, while conveying Japan’s solidarity with the victims of the cyclone in Madagascar last month.
    2. In response, President Rajoelina welcomed Minister Kamikawa's visit and appreciated Japan’s assistance in dealing with the cyclone damage. President Rajoelina also stated that he would like to further strengthen the good relations between the two countries.
  2. Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)
    1. Referring to the importance of Toamasina Port supported by Japan in strengthening maritime connectivity, Minister Kamikawa stated that Japan would like to contribute to the economic resilience of Madagascar through improvement of the production environment for mineral resources and the development of a wider urban area in Madagascar, using " Co-Creation for Common Agenda Initiative" launched in the new Development Cooperation Charter.
    2. President Rajoelina expressed his gratitude for the Japanese cooperation and welcomed it as it would contribute to the development of the Madagascar economy. He also stated that he gives priority on road improvement including expressways.
    3. As maritime states, both sides concurred on working together to maintain a free and open maritime order based on the rule of law for the concrete implementation of FOIP.
  3. Bilateral relations
    1. Minister Kamikawa stated that Madagascar is an important partner for Japan from the perspective of economic security, and requested cooperation to improve the business environment, referring to a mineral project being implemented in the country as the Japanese largest investment project in Africa. She also stated that she would like to continue to cooperate for increasing productivity of rice, which is the staple food in Madagascar.
    2. In response, President Rajoelina stated that it is important for the Ambatovy Nickle Project to lead to the development of Madagascar’s economy, and considering that the project is also important for Madagascar’s economy, he would like to cooperate with the parties concerned.
    3. Both sides also concurred on continuing to cooperate in the TICAD process.

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