Australia is interested in the Malagasy mining sector

During his meeting with the Malagasy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pierrot Rajaonarivelo, yesterday, William Fisher, ambassador and special envoy of Australian Prime Minister to the French speaking countries in Africa said, “We think we can help Madagascar to manage its mineral resources in the right way”.

A leading producer of minerals in the world, Australia plans to bring assistance to Madagascar in this particular sector regarding several aspects. Expertise on mining and engineering management has already begun for some time, but from now on, they will be strengthened. At the same time, Malagasy students were granted with scholarships in order to deepen their knowledge in this island-continent of the Pacific Ocean.

The Australian delegation, composed of four people, and led by HE William Fisher, performed a courtesy visit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Anosy yesterday. Actually, Sander Vegting, Ambassador appointed to work in Madagascar, Fabrice Romeo, “Research Policy Officer” of the Australian Embassy in Mauritius and Percy Stanley, Counselor in Development and Cooperation inside the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAid) accompanied Australian Prime Minister’s special envoy during the visit. The strengthening of bilateral development cooperation between Australia and Madagascar was being discussed during the visit. Besides, several meetings are also planned by the Australian delegation including a meeting with the Malagasy economic operators. The delegation will leave the country on March 12, 2012.