India pushes its pawns
India announced aid of $100 million to Madagascar in mid-February, on the occasion of a government summit in Dubai. It will mainly benefit the Malagasy army, for the purchase of a transport plane and speedboats for coastal surveillance. India will also donate 50,000 tonnes of rice to the Big Island and support companies in the pharmaceutical sector promoting traditional pharmacopoeia. The subcontinent thus pushes its pawns into Madagascar, in a context of struggle for influence with China in Africa and the Indian Ocean. India is also building a major naval and air base on the Mauritian island of Agalega, located 800 kilometers northeast of Diégo-Suarez.
Goal : 15 tonnes of gold exported per year
After a period of suspension of gold exports aimed at cleaning up a sector familiar with illegal practices and smuggling, the Malagasy government authorized them again in 2022, by establishing strict rules for the repatriation of currencies resulting from these sales. At the end of the previous decade, declared exports of the yellow metal had fallen to less than two tonnes, on real traffic estimated at 15 tonnes. Early January, the government has specified 15 tonnes of gold legally exported per year from 2024, generating 900 million in foreign exchange earnings.
A 30 million euro license for Orange
Orange Madagascar spent 30 million euros to obtain a global telecommunications license from the Malagasy state, announced in January the Malagasy Ministry of Digital Development, Posts and Telecommunications. This “super license”, acquired for fifteen years, allows the operator to extend its activities to all telecommunications segments, like Telma, the historical operator. The establishment of this global license aims to boost investments and fuel competition in the sector..
Qatar Airways arrive
The company Qatar Airways obtained authorization from the Malagasy authorities at the end of January to serve Madagascar from Doha, seven times a week. However, no date has been given for the opening of this line.. The Big Island, whose national airline has withdrawn from long-haul, seeks to attract new carriers to develop its tourist numbers. Mid-February, President Andry Rajoelina was received at Emirates headquarters, in Dubai, on the occasion of the world summit of governments.
Habibo bottles Coca-Cola
Habibo Beverages, subsidiary of the eponymous Malagasy group, is officially the new bottler of Coca-Cola and other brands of the American giant (Fanta, Sprite…) since February 1. Habibo succeeds the Castel group, which had broken its agreements with Coca-Cola in several African countries in 2022, including Madagascar. For several months, Coke was no longer available in the country, before the firm entrusted a Habibo subsidiary with the bottling of its drinks.
Solar : Green Yellow se retire
The French group Green Yellow announced at the beginning of February the sale of its assets in several Malagasy solar power plants, existing or planned, to its local partner Axian Energy. Green Yellow notably carried out with Axian the giant photovoltaic power plant project (40 MW) in Ambatolampy, south of Tananarive. The French energy company is also withdrawing from other African countries, wanting to refocus on Europe.
Tourism revenues up sharply
Madagascar welcomed 260,000 foreign tourists last year, twice as much as in 2022 but without catching up to the level before the health crisis. Likewise, the number of arrivals recorded in January 2024 remains lower than in January 2019. Tourism receipts have also increased significantly, compared to 2022, at 534 million euros, less, however, than in 2019 (655 millions).
