The United States Department of Agriculture and the Republic of Madagascar’s Ministry of Agriculture (hereinafter referred to as "the Participants");
Desiring to strengthen cooperation in the agricultural sector;
Affirming their commitment to market-oriented agricultural policies and an open and fair trading relationship in food and agricultural products;
Seeking to build upon ongoing initiatives to strengthen institutional capacity;
Stating their interest to explore bilateral agricultural trade and investment, and enhance agribusiness development;
Being convinced that cooperation in the agricultural sector will promote further development of the relationship between the United States and Madagascar, and
Based on principles of trust, equality and mutual benefits,
Have reached the following understandings:

This Memorandum of Understanding is intended to promote and strengthen cooperation between the two Participants in the agricultural sector.

The Participants intend to explore cooperation in areas that are supportive of Madagascar’s "Master Plan for Rural Development". Such cooperation may include, but is not limited to, efforts to:

This Memorandum is intended to serve as the framework for the Participants to develop and coordinate their cooperative efforts in the agricultural sector. These collaborative activities should be mutually determined by the Participants and described in, and subject to, individual plans of work delineating specific arrangements between Participants for each activity. In general, cooperation should be effected through exchange of materials and information; exchange of scientists, specialists, and trainees; organization of seminars and workshops and joint publication of studies and reports.

To generate broader interest and maximize the results of cooperation, the Participants should, as appropriate, involve interested government agencies, private agribusiness, and scientific institutions of both countries in cooperative activities under this Memorandum. The Participants should encourage and facilitate broad contacts between leaders and specialists of appropriate institutions, scientists and educators that will foster long-term cooperation in areas such as agricultural research, extension, training, and investment.

The Participants should also encourage the publication of scientific and technical information of a non-proprietary nature derived from the cooperative activities (unless otherwise determined by the Participants).

The Participants hereby designate the following offices as points of contact for collaboratively administering the activities to be conducted under this Memorandum: the International Cooperation and Development of the Foreign Agricultural Service for the United States Department of Agriculture and the Office of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture for the Republic of Madagascar.

Activities to be conducted under this Memorandum may be set out in greater detail by the Participants in writing in subsequent implementing arrangements. Each Participant should bear the costs of its participation in all cooperative activities carried out under this Memorandum unless the Participants establish other arrangements. All cooperative activities are subject to the availability of funds, resources, and personnel and are to be conducted in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Participants.

Nothing in this Memorandum effects or modifies any existing understandings between the Participants.

Disagreements that may arise in the interpretation or application of this Memorandum will be resolved by mutual consent of the Participants.

Cooperation under this Memorandum may commence from the date of signature and is expected to continue for 5 years. The Memorandum may be modified or extended by a mutual determination of the Participants. A Participant should endeavor to give the other Participant at least 6 months notice of its intention to end its cooperation under the Memorandum, and the Participants should continue to work together to conclude specific cooperative projects already in progress.

Signed in Antananarivo, Madagascar, this 15th day of July, 2005, in duplicate in the English and French languages.

FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
MIKE JOHANNS, Secretary of Agriculture of the United States of America

FOR THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE OF THE REPUBLIC OF MADAGASCAR:
HARISON E. RANDRIARIMANANA, Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Madagascar

Last modified: Wednesday, July 20, 2005