Türkiye's Madagascar ambassador seeks lasting partnership for both peoples

Türkiye's ambassador to Madagascar, Halime Ebru Demircan, said in an interview with L'Express de Madagascar that her country wants to build a lasting partnership with Madagascar based on equality and respect. She discussed Turkish investment opportunities, scholarships and cooperation on tackling climate change as COP31 begins in Antalya.

Türkiye's ambassador to Madagascar, Halime Ebru Demircan, said the two countries' friendly relations are now reflected in a “genuine partnership of equals” based on mutual respect and trust and the principle of mutual benefit, in an interview published Monday by L'Express de Madagascar.

Demircan told the newspaper that the embassy had made intensified high-level contacts and regular consultations in key sectors its priorities. She noted that Turkish Airlines' regular flights play a pivotal role in facilitating travel between the two countries.

The front page of L'Express de Madagascar featuring an interview with Türkiye's ambassador

She added that the trade and economic cooperation agreement signed in 2024 would soon enter into force, allowing for the establishment of a joint committee. Negotiations are also under way on other agreements, including those on the protection of mutual investments and the prevention of double taxation.

Opportunities for Turkish investment

The ambassador said Madagascar had significant economic potential thanks to its natural resources, human capital and geographical location. She listed energy, infrastructure, transport, agriculture, mining, tourism, health and modern technologies among the promising sectors for Turkish companies. She highlighted Türkiye's experience in building roads, bridges, ports and railways, stressing that the aim was not merely to carry out a project or sell a product, but to build lasting partnerships that create jobs and improve services for local communities.

Scholarships and support in response to cyclones

In education, Demircan said 181 students from Madagascar had benefited from Turkish scholarships since 1992, describing them as “bridges between the two peoples.” She also highlighted the role of Maarif International Schools in Madagascar and projects carried out by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA).

On climate, the ambassador said Türkiye would host the Conference of the Parties, COP31, in Antalya from November 9 to 20, 2026, in close cooperation with Australia, which is chairing the negotiations. She said Ankara wanted it to be “an action-oriented conference.” She noted that Africa is bearing the severe consequences of climate change despite its limited contribution to historical emissions, citing cyclones and drought in Madagascar.

She added that TİKA, Türkiye's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and Turkish civil society organizations had provided emergency aid worth approximately 500 million ariary after the most recent cyclones. The Türkiye Diyanet Foundation also supported the construction of wells equipped with solar power systems in Antsiranana and Toliara. She also discussed the BRIDGE initiative, developed with the United Nations Development Programme to help countries turn their climate priorities into tangible projects and facilitate their access to financing.

Photo: L'Express de Madagascar, via the Turkish Embassy in Antananarivo

Türkiye's Madagascar ambassador seeks lasting partnership for both peoples