Reunion and Madagascar Presidents discuss regional cooperation

January 29, 2019
by Alain St.Ange
4 min read
reunionandmadagascar
reunionandmadagascar
Written by Alain St.Ange

A meeting took place between the President of the Réunion Region, Didier Robert, and the new President of the Republic of Madagascar, His Excellency Andry Rajoelina. On official travel to Madagascar on the occasion of the investiture of the new President of the Republic held on January 19 in the presence of several African Heads of State and representatives of France, the President of the Réunion Region, Didier ROBERT met Monday, January 21 with the new President of the Republic of Madagascar, His Excellency Andry Rajoelina at the State Palace of Iavoloha in Antananarivo.

This first meeting, in the aftermath of the democratic election described as historic by the international observers is, for the President Didier Robert, the time to consolidate the bonds of friendship between the island of Reunion and the “Big Island”. President Didier Robert believes that it is the time to reinforce the dynamic partnership that exists and to strengthen avenues of cooperation in the areas of: the economy (tourism, energy, agriculture …), education, training and the environment in particular. Reunion and Madagascar have since 2010 built a cooperation more focused on the economy, export and tourism

With the signing of the € 63 million Interrreg V OI European Framework Agreement, the two islands embody a number of projects benefiting people in the fields of economics and training in particular. The rapprochement and the strong dimension that the new Malagasy President wishes to give today to cooperation actions mark a new and promising step in bilateral relations. President Andry Rajoelina said: “Our vision is similar for the development of the Indian Ocean area. We must exploit our proximity to better cooperate in areas such as agriculture, energy, industrialization. The know-how, the engineering of Reunion which is ahead of various sectors such as the poultry industry or the energies, should allow us to get closer and develop to catch up. Among the priority topics addressed during this interview: sustainable tourism, air connectivity, training in the agricultural sectors, Reunion’s expertise in renewable energies, and waste management.

The new projects led by President Andry Rajoelina were exposed. Among them transport, roads but also the development of a chain of chicken production with the support and know-how of Reunion industries. For the development of sustainable nature tourism in the Indian Ocean: the collective efforts made through the Vanilla Islands program and the economic benefits of cruises that benefit destinations in the Indian Ocean including the prospect of new companies must continue and intensify.

The new President aims, in this dynamic, to convince new investors to increase the supply and attractiveness (hotels and restaurants) and to mark a new impetus in tourism policy. The vision shared by the President of Madagascar and the President of the Region Reunion is that of the development of sustainable tourism in these regions with exceptional assets in terms of biodiversity, tourism that allows the creation of jobs. The President of the Republic of Madagascar officially invited La Réunion to participate in the international conference on tourism to be held in Nosy Be next April.

On the issues of preservation, enhancement of biodiversity and natural heritage: the creation of the future Regional Agency for Biodiversity (ARB) in a few weeks should allow to better coordinate the commitments, alerts and needs of all the islands of the Indian Ocean, well beyond Reunion Island.

For Didier Robert, “the exceptional wealth and breadth of the territory of Madagascar in terms of biodiversity should enable it to take the lead on these issues”. On air connectivity, President Didier Robert stressed the importance of the signing of the strategic partnership agreement and Air Austral / Air Madagascar shareholder agreement. “A fundamental decision for regional cooperation, because this marriage between our two regional carriers has truly registered our cooperation in a dimension of excellence that will meet the challenges of regional and international tourism with the promotion of the destination” Vanilla Islands ” , the acceleration of the exchange of goods and people between our two territories …

This strategic partnership has already enabled the creation on 2 July 2018 of TSARADIA (translation bon voyage), which is a restructuring of Air Madagascar, national for domestic flights.

In conclusion, the President of the Republic of Madagascar and the President of the Reunion Region wish to open with dynamism and determination a new era and get closer, to assess the capacities of each to work for mutual success.

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About the author

Alain St.Ange

Alain St Ange has been working in the tourism business since 2009. He was appointed as the Director of Marketing for Seychelles by President and Minister of Tourism James Michel.

He was appointed as the Director of Marketing for Seychelles by President and Minister of Tourism James Michel. After one year of

After one year of service, he was promoted to the position of CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board.

In 2012 the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands regional Organization was formed and St Ange was appointed as the first president of the organization.

In a 2012 cabinet re-shuffle, St Ange was appointed as Minister of Tourism and Culture which he resigned on 28 December 2016 in order to pursue a candidacy as Secretary General of the World Tourism Organisation.

At the UNWTO General Assembly in Chengdu in China, a person who was being sought after for the “Speakers Circuit” for tourism and sustainable development was Alain St.Ange.

St.Ange is the former Seychelles Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine who left office in December last year to run for the position of Secretary General of the UNWTO. When his candidature or document of endorsement was withdrawn by his country just a day before the elections in Madrid, Alain St.Ange showed his greatness as a speaker when he addressed the UNWTO gathering with grace, passion, and style.

His moving speech was recorded as the one on the best marking speeches at this UN international body.

African countries often remember his Uganda address for the East Africa Tourism Platform when he was a guest of honor.

As former Tourism Minister, St.Ange was a regular and popular speaker and was often seen addressing forums and conferences on behalf of his country. His ability to speak ‘off the cuff’ was always seen as a rare ability. He often said he speaks from the heart.

In Seychelles he is remembered for a marking address at the official opening of the island’s Carnaval International de Victoria when he reiterated the words of John Lennon famous song… ” you may say I am a dreamer, but I am not the only one. One day you will all join us and the world will be better as one”. The world press contingent gathered in Seychelles on the day ran with the words by St.Ange which made headlines everywhere.

St.Ange delivered the keynote address for the “Tourism & Business Conference in Canada”

Seychelles is a good example for sustainable tourism. This is therefore not surprising to see Alain St.Ange being sought after as a speaker on the international circuit.

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