Despite Madagascar’s strategic and economic importance, Turkey does not even have an honorary consulate on the island. Instead, it is accredited to the Turkish Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. But Madagascar has an honorary consulate in İstanbul. Turkey decided to open an embassy in Madagascar in 2009. Experienced Ambassador Ercümend Ahmet Enç was appointed to the pending embassy, but before he can assume the post the deep-running political turmoil on the island must be calmed.In the predominantly Christian island, Turkey and Turks are not known very well. Most people think Turkey is a backward Arab country and Turkish an Arab language. In Turkey, Madagascar is mainly known by the animated film “Madagascar.” Due to the lack of political relations between the two countries, economic relations are also very weak. However, a Turkish school, the International Işık Koleji, which opened in the capital, Antananarivo, has improved the perception people have about Turkey and Turks. The school began by offering middle-school-level classes to seven scholarship students in the old Indian Embassy building in 2002. It opened its high school section in October 2009. There are now a total of 150 students with 15 receiving scholarships. Of the student body, 50 live in the school’s dormitory. While 15 percent are Muslim, the remaining students are of Christian and local religions. The languages that are taught are French, Malagasy, English and Turkish. The cost is $200 monthly. The Turkish school has become known for its discipline, quality education and close relationship between teachers, parents and students. The school held its first graduation ceremony in 2009. One of the students who graduated from the school is to start studying business at Konya Selçuk University in the fall of 2010. There are 23 Malagasy college students in Turkey. The recess bell is the theme music of the classic Turkish film “Hababam Sınıfı.” If Rıfat Ilgaz, the author of the novel by the same name, knew that the music from the movie based on his novel had reached all the way to Madagascar, he would be surprised.
The total Turkish population in Madagascar is 26, which includes five college students, seven teachers, two school administrators and some family members. International Işık Koleji General Coordinator Ertuğrul İncekul has dedicated his time to promoting Turkey in Madagascar. He is trying to open a Turkish Cultural Center in one of the biggest and most prestigious universities in the country, Ambohitsaina. Rector Abel Anda is supporting the endeavor. İncekul’s 8-year-old daughter, Rana, who was born in Moscow, has quickly adapted to the island. In addition to Russian, she has learned French and Malagasy. She is very happy to be taking violin classes. Selim, the 3-year-old son of the school’s math teacher Kasım Aksoy, is the first Turkish person to be born in Madagascar. Gym teacher Haluk Doğan’s two-year-old son, Ferhat, is the second Madagascar-born Turk. Yusuf Kurt, the school principal, Ökkeş Özgüven, who became an English teacher at the school after studying English Language and Literature in Kenya, Veli Dolgun, the school technical expert, and Kyrgyzstan-born Talgat Amanov, who has been the computer teacher since 2005, have all made valuable contributions.
Speaking of the school, we can’t forget about Pakistani businessman Abdül Resul Yaver, who was born in Madagascar and provided significant economic and political support to Turks on the island, and Volkan Çakır, who worked with great dedication on the island for several years as a health expert. Since 2007, 15 groups of Turkish businessmen have visited Madagascar. Despite the heavy traffic between the two countries in the last three years, no one has established commercial trade with or invested in Madagascar. Antananarivo has a temperate climate and stands at an elevation of close to 1,300 meters. It is a place Turks can call home. The people are easygoing and calm. The tourism and service sector is especially suitable for investment. Its flora and climate make it an ideal place for tourism. It can be Turkey’s gateway to African and Indian Ocean islands. By providing training to political, bureaucratic and security staff in Turkey, relations between Turkey and Madagascar can be established.
