Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, Head of State, departed for France yesterday, with a subsequent visit to Belgium planned. He intends to hold high-level meetings, notably with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The first leg of the presidential trip is France, where he will attend the International Space Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris today. The Head of State emphasized Madagascar’s interest in developing space technology and partnerships, noting that a memorandum of understanding with two Chinese companies was signed in July regarding a satellite project for the island.
The highlight of the Paris visit is expected to be a potential bilateral meeting with Emmanuel Macron. If confirmed, this would be their second meeting following their February 24 encounter at the Élysée Palace, which focused on political consolidation, economic development, and security cooperation. This meeting could help normalize diplomatic relations, which faced tensions earlier this year.
The Volobe hydroelectric dam project is also on the agenda. This project, located on the Ivondro River, has been stalled for nearly a decade due to disagreements over electricity tariffs and concession terms. With Électricité de France (EDF) now part of the consortium, discussions aim to finalize the financial structure and project implementation.
Following France, the Head of State will travel to Belgium for meetings with Belgian authorities and a high-ranking European Union official. Energy cooperation and the upcoming electoral calendar—with constitutional and presidential elections targeted before the end of 2027—are expected to be key topics of discussion.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-10 06:08:36 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/deplacement-en-europe-le-chef-de-letat.html