Brussels, 16/10/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Prime Minister of Madagascar, Tantely Andrianarivo and the European Commission for Development Policy, Poul Nielson, signed a 5 million euro financing agreement in Brussels on Monday for a rural development programme in Bemarraha. Talks that preceded that gesture revolved around cooperation between the European Union and Madagascar, one of the 77 ACP countries (Africa, Caribbean/Asian) signatory to the Cotonou Partnership Agreement.
The main fields of intervention for aid provided by the Union under the Lome Convention have been transport infrastructure, support for social sectors (health, education) and rural development. For the year 2002, 42 million euro will be allocated under the 8th Edf to improve infrastructures, and the country will benefit from more or less 60 million in 2001.