Macron visits Madagascar as he seeks to bolster economic cooperation

French President Emmanuel Macron started a two-day visit to the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar on Wednesday and spoke of the need for his country to find new markets and boost economic cooperation in the region.

Macron’s trip is the first state visit by a French leader to the former colony off the east coast of Africa since President Jacques Chirac’s in 2005.

Macron met with Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina in the capital,…