?The illustration of an old dream of regional cooperation?. This is how the general manager of La Sentinelle group, Jean-Claude de l?Estrac, describes the new publication born from a partnership between the Mauritian press group and Prey of Madagascar. The first issue of this news, opinion and entertainment weekly in Madagascar came out last Saturday. ?Hebdo de Madagascar? is bilingual ? in French and Malagasy.

The newspaper targets a national audience both in Antananarivo and in the rural areas where it will come out on Sunday mornings. This partnership has helped the Malagasy to benefit from Mauritian experience, savoir-faire and technology. Moreover, this weekly will be a bit like the Mauritian weeklies: the week?s news will be tackled from a different angle to bring a touch of something extra to readers, together with a foretaste of the news for the coming week as well as profiles, interviews, features, investigations?

In short, it means to fill a gap in the market. ?The press is a sector unlike any other business. It serves the public interest. In Mauritius, it has helped to promote national development and the rise of a demanding and sensible readership. The Malagasy are looking for the same thing. It is a great honour to share our experience,? said Jean-Claude de l?Estrac, at the official launching of the new publication, last Thursday at the Hilton Hotel in Antananarivo. The chairman of Prey group, Edgar Razafindravahy, thanked the Mauritian group for its support and added they were ?proud that the Sentinelle had put its trust in them.?