Ambassadors' Portrait Gallery inaugurated at Indian Embassy in Madagascar

On September 17, TEHINDRAZANARIVELO Djacoba A. S. Oliva, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Madagascar along with the Ambassador of India Abhay Kumar inaugurated the Ambassadors' Portrait Gallery at the Embassy of India premises. During his speech, Ambassador Abhay Kumar mentioned that the Government of India opened the Consulate General of India in Antananarivo in 1954 which was upgraded into an Embassy in 1960. He said, 'We are among the first Embassies to open in Madagascar. It has been six decades since 1960 and during this time, 21 Indian Ambassadors have worked towards strengthening this important partnership. This Portrait Gallery is an initiative to remember them.' He stressed that inauguration of the portrait gallery by the Foreign Minister has made the occasion very special. Ambassador hoped that in the coming decades, the relationship between the two countries will grow stronger. During his address the Malagasy Foreign Minister stated, 'Since the opening of Indian Embassy in Madagascar in 1960, the friendly relations and the cooperation between the two countries have been strengthening year after year. People, somewhat simply, sum up the life and work of diplomats 'they come and go'. He added that the friendship and the successful cooperation between nations are possible due to the tireless work of valuable men and women towards this ultimate goal. On the occasion, Ambassador also presented a set of stamps on Mahatma Gandhi issued in collaboration with Malagasy post as a part of the celebrations of 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi to the Hon'ble Foreign Minister of Madagascar.