Antananarivo University of Madagascar held a ceremony on Feb 18 to mark the inauguration of a Luban Workshop.

The Madagascar Luban Workshop is the 10th of its kind built by China in Africa to cultivate vocational talents for partner countries.

The exterior view of the Madagascar Luban Workshop [Photo/Beijing Daily]

Sponsored by the Tianjin Vocational College of Mechanics and Electricity, Tianjin Machinery & Electric Industry School, Antananarivo University and China Railway 18th Bureau Group, it is set to offer non-degree education in electrical engineering and automotive engineering in its first phase.

The workshop has established a training base for vehicle maintenance & repair and eight classrooms installed with 113 sets of equipment. It will welcome its first 37-member freshman class this year.

Hajo Andrianainarivelo, Minister of Territorial Development, Housing and Public Works of Madagascar, said the workshop represents the diversity of cooperation between Madagascar and China and is a model for win-win cooperation.

"This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Madagascar. The newly-built workshop is a witness to the friendship," said Guo Xiaomei, Chinese ambassador to Madagascar, at the ceremony.

Guo called on more young people in Madagascar to attend vocational training courses and contribute their strengths to the development of the manufacturing industry in the island country.