On the occasion of India's 80th independence anniversary, celebrated Saturday at Ankorondrano, the embassy reaffirmed its commitment to Madagascar. Mohit Kumar, chargé d'affaires of the Indian Embassy in Madagascar, welcomed guests at the celebration of India's 80th independence anniversary.

A partnership taking concrete form. India reaffirms its support for Madagascar in its development priorities, through several areas, notably humanitarian aid, health, training and education. This dynamic was illustrated during the celebration of India's 80th independence anniversary, Saturday, at the Ibis Ankorondrano hotel.

"India reaffirms its commitment to Madagascar, as a close maritime neighbor, a sister nation of the continent and a family separated by the ocean, and attaches great importance to the centuries-old bonds of friendship and solid human relations that unite our nations," emphasized Mohit Kumar, chargé d'affaires of the Indian Embassy in Madagascar.

Following cyclones and drought, the Indian government donated 5,000 tonnes of rice to the Malagasy people and government. "This gesture follows an initial delivery of 30 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including medicines, blankets, tents and water tanks, which was transported by C-17 aircraft and delivered in March," the chargé d'affaires indicated.

Partnership Areas

Health is another concrete area of this cooperation. "India has provided advanced health services, particularly in radiotherapy at health facilities in Antananarivo. This has enabled the treatment of more than 1,800 cancer patients in Madagascar." Through this support, India puts its medical expertise at the service of the needs of the Great Island.

Skills development also holds an important place. Hundreds of Malagasy officials have been able to strengthen their capacities through the ITEC program (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation). Furthermore, scholarships have been awarded to deserving candidates under the ICCR program (Indian Council for Cultural Relations).

This commitment is part of the Indian government's "Mahasagar" vision, focused on security and growth for all regions of the Indian Ocean. The objective is to share Indian experience and expertise in development, according to Madagascar's priorities and needs.

The two countries also claim a proximity based on shared values. "Guided by the ancient Indian philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family), India has always firmly stood by Madagascar, a sentiment that echoes the Malagasy cultural value of 'Fihavanana', which embodies social harmony, solidarity and brotherhood. This shared philosophical vision translates into concrete support provided by India in humanitarian and development terms," concluded the Indian Embassy's chargé d'affaires.

Beyond the official celebration, the day was also marked by demonstrations of yoga and traditional Indian dances. These performances, characteristic of India, offered the public a glimpse of the country's cultural richness and contributed to the festive atmosphere of the event.