Solidarity and development at the heart of the meeting

From June 8th to 10th, Antananarivo will host the annual meeting of the Association of Cities and Communities of the Indian Ocean (AVCOI) at the Novotel Ivandry.

Delegations from the Comoros, Mauritius, Mayotte, Réunion, Seychelles, and Madagascar will gather to strengthen their ties and share their experiences. For three days, community representatives will discuss three main themes: local economic development and taxation, resilience in the face of climate change, and inclusive governance, particularly gender equality.

“Cooperation between local elected officials is essential for sustainable development that directly benefits the population,” emphasizes Harilala Ramanantsoa, Mayor of Antananarivo. She also emphasizes the importance of sharing experiences, which complements financing strategies. Participating cities are working together to develop proposals to submit to national governments.

A common voice is also being prepared for major upcoming international meetings, such as COP 30 on climate change in November or the G20 summit scheduled for October in Johannesburg. Madagascar, like the Comoros, is recognized for its development financing strategy. But officials emphasize that progress depends not only on money, but also on solidarity between territories. Founded in 1990 in Antananarivo, the AVCOI aims to be a space for dialogue to jointly address the challenges facing island cities.