First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic is on an official visit to the Republic of Madagascar.

The Serbian Foreign Minister met today in Antananarivo with high-ranking officials of the country.

Minister Dacic had separate meetings with Minister of Economy and Finance Mr. Richard Randriamandranto, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Crafts Ms. Rakotomalala Lantosoa, and his counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Franck Michel Naina Andriantsitohaina. Minister Dacic and his interlocutors took stock of the bilateral relations between Serbia and Madagascar, discussing modalities for the promotion of cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
After the meeting with the Foreign Minister, the two Ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Madagascar.
"I am visiting Madagascar with the aim of promoting our relations and developing the bilateral cooperation.
Serbia is a successor to Yugoslavia and our excellent cooperation with Madagascar dates back to the time of President Tito, one of the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement.

I seek to restore such cooperation with many countries of Africa and I am visiting Madagascar for the second time in this context. I was here three years ago, when we agreed to improve the cooperation between our two countries even further.

We will appoint a Joint Committee on economic cooperation and it is expected that an exchange of visits of businesspeople from our countries will take place. In the field of education, Serbia will offer stipends to students from Madagascar. Furthermore, Serbia will offer Madagascar assistance in the areas of health care and pharmaceuticals, given that both our countries have highly successful institutes engaging in vaccine production.

I expect my colleague, the Foreign Minister, to pay us a return visit, but also a visit by your new President in autumn this year.

Serbia has been a true friend to Madagascar and we will continue to pursue such policy", said Minister Dacic.