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Indonesia–Madagascar relations spans for over a millennium, since the ancestors of the people of Madagascar sailed across the Indian Ocean from the Malay Archipelago back in 8th or 9th century AD. Today, Indonesia has an embassy in Antananarivo, while Madagascar embassy in Tokyo is also accredited to Indonesia.
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History
The historical links between the Malay Archipelago and Madagascar took place during the era of Srivijaya empire. It is suggested that the empire contributing to the population of Madagascar 6,600 kilometres (4,100 mi) to the south-west. Austronesian peoples' migration to Madagascar is estimated to have happened around 830 AD. According to an extensive new mitochondrial DNA study, native Malagasy people today can likely trace their genetic heritage back to 30 different mothers from Indonesia. Malagasy contains loan words from Sanskrit, all with local linguistic modifications via Javanese or Malay, hint that Madagascar may have been colonized by settlers from the Srivijaya empire. At that time the Srivijayan maritime empire was expanding their maritime trade network.
The trace of linguistic links is evidence in similar words shared between Malagasy language and Indonesian Malay language. Some similar words such as hand: ˈtananə (Malagasy), tangan (Malay); skin: ˈhoditra (Malagasy), kulit (Malay); white: ˈfotsy (Malagasy), putih (Malay); island: nosy (Malagasy), nusa (Malay from Sanskrit origin).
The diplomatic relations was officially established in the 1960s. However, not until 2009 Indonesia opened their embassy in Antananarivo, while the Madagascar embassy in Tokyo is also accredited to Indonesia.
In 2003, the Borobudur ship expedition visited Madagascar, sailed from Indonesia on its way to Accra, Ghana. The ship was reconstructed from Borobudur panel, and the reenactment voyage demonstrated ancient trading links between Indonesia and Africa (in particular East Africa and Madagascar). The treacherous Cinnamon shipping route took vessels from Indonesian waters across the Indian Ocean past the Seychelles, Madagascar, and South Africa to Ghana. It is also to demonstrate of how ancient Indonesians sailors and settlers reached Madagascar.
High level visit
On November 2008 Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana visited Indonesia and met Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. This is his second visit to Indonesia, previously in 2005 Ravalomanana visited Indonesia during Asian-African Conference anniversary in Bandung.
Cooperation
Both countries are interested to improve the cooperation in various sectors, especially agriculture, culture, energy and trade. The close kinship between two nations are fostered further by cultural exchanges, such as Indonesian cultural performances in Madagascar from wayang kulit performance to Indonesian ethnic-based jazz band.