The signing ceremony of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Madagascar, represented by Mr. Patrick Rajoelina, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Government of the United Kingdom, represented by H.E. Mr. David William Ashley, Ambassador of Great Britain to Madagascar, took place on November 04, 2021, in the presence of the Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt, Minister of State for Trade Policy of the United Kingdom, in a virtual manner.
This agreement falls within the framework of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the United Kingdom and the countries of the Eastern and Southern Africa Group (ESAG), of which the Republic of Madagascar is a member.
The agreement covers three main areas, including market access, maritime and inland fisheries, aquaculture development, and development cooperation including the private sector, infrastructure, natural resources and the environment. These areas are, in many ways, in line with the Malagasy Government’s priorities in terms of economic diplomacy and, to a larger extent, with the objectives of an accelerated growth economy promoted by the vision of H.E. Andry Rajoelina, President of the Republic of Madagascar, through the Initiative for the Emergence of Madagascar.
This agreement also reflects the excellent relations that exist between Madagascar and the United Kingdom and the bond of friendship between the two nations whose official relations were sealed on 14 January 1817 with the signing of the first Anglo-Malagasy Treaty.
It is worth noting that by withdrawing from the European Union, the UK has committed itself to ensuring the continuity of partnerships with countries where trade agreements have been signed with the EU. For example, negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement between the UK and a group of countries in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA); including Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Comoros, were initiated in 2017.
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