Madagascar presents opportunities during its Expo Nat'l Day

Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, Executive Director of the Office of the Commissioner-General of Expo 2020 Dubai, welcomed Chamarly Jonchelin Andrianjafimananjara, Chargé d'Affaires A-I of the Embassy of Madagascar in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Ali said, "As one of the world's most unique eco-tourism destinations, Madagascar invites our visitors to discover a 'sustainable sanctuary of nature' within its pavilion, and sheds light on its efforts towards building a synergetic relationship with its environment, and improving education and equality.

Andrianjafimananjara said, "Representatives from all over the world are meeting here at Expo 2020 Dubai to connect minds to build the future. My country has opted for the Sustainability District because we are convinced that the improvement of our future depends, above all, on the state of our environment. It is a great honour for my country to contribute our humble stone to this edifice.

Madagascar is one of the few countries that still has a lot of untapped wealth, creating various economic opportunities in all sectors, he said. "In agriculture, Madagascar has 36 million hectares of fertile land, of which only six percent is cultivated. Our climate and rainfall are optimal, and our land is fertile."

The speeches were followed by traditional song and dance by Baba Raprosy and ZMG, playing the national instruments of Madagascar – the valiha (a tube zither made from bamboo) and the jejy voatavo (a stick zither with one or two strings) – accompanied by a violin.

Located in the Sustainability District, the Madagascar Pavilion introduces visitors to the plant and animal species on the island, many of which are found nowhere else on the planet, such as lemurs. The pavilion showcases the best of the island's tourist attractions and highlights the potential for investors to get involved in one of the world's most unique destinations.