between the two countries." The ceremony was attended by senior civil and military dignitaries in addition to the Prime Minister and his delegation. High level visits President Didier Ratsiraka visited India in 1980 and 1983. President Hery Rajaonarimampianina visited India in October 2015 to attend the India Africa Forum–III Summit. In March 2018, Ram Nath Kovind became the first Indian President to visit Madagascar. Kovind was conferred the Grand Cross of the Second Class, Madagascar's highest honour for non-citizens, by Prime Minister of Madagascar Olivier Solonandrasan. Trade and finance In November 2008, Exim Bank gave Madagascar a $25 million loan for agricultural improvements. As of 2011, 61 Malagasy people had received training as part of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme. In March 2018, to facilitate its financial assistance programme, India decided to offer Madagascar a US$80.7 million Line of Credit (LoC) for agriculture and mechanisation. Military India Navy operates a Coastal Surveillance Radar (CSR) station in Madagascar. Geological history In 2013, scientists discovered that Madagascar and India were part of Gondwanaland about 85 million years ago. The sliver of land joining them is called Mauritia. Madagascar was connected to the south-western part of India. It shares vegetation and both have dense evergreen forests. References India–Madagascar relations Madagascar Madagascar Bilateral relations of Madagascar