Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia and Madagascar have formalized plans to elevate their diplomatic ties, signing a pivotal agreement to establish a Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) to drive their strategic and economic partnership.The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and his Malagasy counterpart, Alice N’Diaye, in Jakarta on Wednesday.”This agreement will provide a stronger institutional framework for our partnership,” Sugiono said during a joint press conference following the bilateral meeting.He underscored that the JCBC mechanism provides crucial momentum to unlock new avenues of collaboration and deliver tangible benefits to both nations.Alongside the JCBC framework, the ministers signed a secondary agreement granting mutual visa exemptions for diplomatic and service passport holders. Sugiono noted that the visa waiver aims to streamline official coordination and lay the groundwork for deeper commercial ties.Pointing to a positive trend in bilateral trade, Sugiono revealed that discussions are already underway to expand visa relaxations to the broader business community to spur private-sector investment.Foreign Minister N'Diaye welcomed the development, characterizing the JCBC as a major milestone that offers a structured platform to enhance intergovernmental coordination.”This will encourage exchanges between our two nations and foster increasingly dynamic and ambitious cooperation in strategic sectors,” N'Diaye said.N'Diaye further described Indonesia as a “crucial partner” in anchoring Madagascar to wider international economic dynamics, affirming that her country remains committed to advancing strategic initiatives with Jakarta.