Economy of Madagascar

Theeconomy ofMadagascarisUS$9.769 billion bygross domestic productas of 2020, being a market economy and is supported by anagriculturalindustry and emergingtourism,textileandminingindustries. Malagasy agriculture produces tropical staple crops such asriceandcassava, as well as cash crops such asvanillaandcoffee.
Malagasy exports from customs protocol in some areas, notably theUnited Statesand theEuropean Union. These exemptions have supported the growth of the Malagasy textile industry. Despite natural resources and developing industries, the2009 Malagasy political crisis—considered by the international community to be an illegal coup—deterred foreign investments in Madagascar and caused the Malagasy economy to decline.Foreign investments have resumed following the resumption of elections in early 2014.Madagascar is aleast developed countryaccording toUnited Nations.
Madagascar's economy at 2024 is one of thefastest growing economiesin the world.
Over the years, successive French colonial and independence-era governments have sought to modernize Madagascar's economy.The first modern land use projects were established by French settlers or Creole immigrants from the Mascarene Islands in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.They introduced cash crops such as coffee, sugarcane, vanilla, cloves, and sisal for export.They also built small-scale mines to exploit the island's graphite, chromite, and uranium resources.To facilitate the processing and marketing of these commodities, the immigrants established a number of financial and commercial enterprises and built a small, modern railroad system.They then brought some Malagasy into this modern sector of the economy, either as wage laborers and sharecroppers on the foreign-owned plantations, or as low-level employees in the civil service or business enterprises. The foreign owners and managers, however, retained almost all of the benefits from these operations.
After independence thePhilibert Tsirananaregime did little to change the French domination of the modern sector of the economy, despite increasing outrage at this continued economic dependence.This anger, together with growing concern over an unequal distribution of wealth that left the southern and western parts of the island in relative poverty, caused the ouster of Tsiranana in 1972 and a shift in economic policy.The new military regime led byGabriel Ramanantsoacut most ties with France and began to Malagachize the economy. Slow progress toward this goal, however, helped to precipitate the end of the Ramanantsoa regime in mid-1975.Only with the rise ofDidier Ratsirakato the presidency later that year did the takeover of formerly French-dominated enterprises begin in earnest.
Ratsiraka's policy of "revolution from above" went beyond confiscating or buying out foreign firms and turning them over to Malagasy ownership; he intended to socialize the economy by nationalizing major enterprises.The state acquired majority or minority ownership in nearly all large financial, transportation, marketing, mining, and manufacturing enterprises.Firms left under private control were required to buy and sell at state-controlled prices, and the state closely monitored the repatriation of profits.In the rural sector, Ratsiraka aimed to establish local farming cooperatives.Almost as important as this institutional reform was the regime's intention, announced in an economic plan for the 1978-80 period, to increase dramatically the level of government capital investment in all sectors of the economy in order to improve the availability of goods and services to all.
By the start of the 1980s, however, Ratsiraka's attempt to fashion viable socialist institutions and to stimulate the economy through increased investment had failed to improve economic production and welfare.Economic growth throughout the 1970s had not kept pace with the expanding population.Despite the availability of significant agricultural and mineral resources, the economy was less productive than at the start of the decade when the average per capita income was already among the lowest in the world.The only apparent effect of the enhanced level of investment, which reached all-time highs in the 1978-80 period, was to put the country deeply in debt to foreign creditors and, therefore, pave the way for a series of structural adjustment agreements signed with the IMF and the World Bank during the 1980s and the early 1990s.Such agreements were necessary because as a 1993 World Bank study pointed out, between 1971 and 1991 the per capita income of Malagasy dropped 40 percent.
Eventually admitting that adoption of the socialist model of economic centralization and state control was a mistake, the Ratsiraka regime in 1980 initiated a return to a more classic liberal economic model that theAlbert Zafyregime wholeheartedly adopted following its inauguration in 1993.The post-1980 Ratsiraka and Zafy regimes have overseen the privatization of parastatals, the disbanding of agricultural marketing boards, the ratification of more liberal investment codes favoring foreign investment, the privatization of the banking industry, diversification of traditional, primary-product exports, and greater investment in food production.The Zafy regime has made reinvigoration of the Malagasy economy its number-one priority.
As of 1994, the majority of Malagasy continued to earn their livelihoods in ways fundamentally unchanged from those of their ancestors — small-scale farms supporting traditional irrigated rice cultivation, dryland farming of cassava and other foods, zebu cattle herding, or the raising of cash crops.
Madagascar produced, in 2018:
In addition to smaller productions of other agricultural products, likecoffee(57 thousand tons),clove(23 thousand tons),cocoa(11 thousand tons),cashew(7 thousand tons) andvanilla(3 thousand tons).
Agriculture, includingfishingandforestry, is Madagascar's largest industry and employs 82% of its labor force.Madagascar's varied climate, ranging fromtropicalalong the coasts, moderate in the highlands andaridin the south, allows for the cultivation of tropical crops such asrice,cassava,beansandbananas.In 2011, agricultural products—especiallycloves,vanilla,cacao,sugar,pepper, andcoffee—accounted for Madagascar's top twelve exports by value.Madagascar produces the largest vanilla harvest in the world and Malagasy vanilla accounts for 80-85% of the global vanilla market.
The fishing industry is present with 66 industrial fishing vessels. Fees & taxes for fishing licences are estimated at 3,6 billion Ariary (US$80 million) for 2023.
Exports from Madagascar'sExport Processing Zones, located aroundAntananarivoandAntsirabe, account for the majority ofgarmentexportsand are largely exempt from customs restrictions in the United States under theAfrican Growth and Opportunity Act(AGOA)and in the European Union under theEverything but Arms(EBA) agreement.
A small but growing part of the economy is based on mining ofilmenite, with investments emerging in recent years, particularly nearTulearandFort Dauphin.Mining corporationRio Tinto Groupstarted production at its Fort DauphinMandenamine in January 2009,following several years of preparation. The mining project is highly controversial, withFriends of the Earthand other environmental organizations filing reports to detail their concerns about the mine's effect on the environment and local communities.Gemstone mining is also an important part of Madagascar's economy.
Several major projects are underway in the mining andoilandgassectors that, if successful, will give a significant boost. In the mining sector, these include the development of coal atSakoaand nickel nearTamatave. TheAmbatovy mine(nickel & cobalt - Sherrit International 40%, Sumitomo 27.5%, Korea Resources 27.5%,SNC-Lavalin5%) is a huge operation and has cost US$4.76 million to dateand is due to start production in 2011. In oil,Madagascar Oilis developing the massiveonshoreheavy oilfieldatTsimiroroandultra heavy oilfield atBemolanga.
Following the 2002 political crisis, the government attempted to set a new course and build confidence, in coordination withinternational financial institutionsand donors. Madagascar developed a recovery plan in collaboration with the private sector and donors and presented it at a "Friends of Madagascar" conference organized by theWorld BankinParisin July 2002.Donor countries demonstrated their confidence in the new government by pledging $1 billion in assistance over five years. The Malagasy Government identified road infrastructure as its principal priority and underlined its commitment to public-private partnership by establishing a joint public-private sector steering committee.
The Madagascar-U.S. Business Council was formed as a collaboration between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Malagasian artisan producers in Madagascar in 2002.The U.S.-Madagascar Business Council was formed in the United States in May 2003, and the two organisations continue to explore ways to work for the benefit of both groups.
The government of former PresidentMarc Ravalomananawas aggressively seeking foreign investment and had planned to tackle many of the obstacles to such investment, including combating corruption, reforming land-ownership laws, encouraging study of American and European business techniques, and active pursuit of foreign investors.President Ravalomanana rose to prominence through his agro-foodsTIKOcompany, and is known for attempting to apply many of the lessons learned in the world of business to running the government.Prior toRavalomanana's resignation, concerns had arisen about the conflict of interest between his policies and the activities of his firms. Most notable among them the preferential treatment for rice imports initiated by the government in late 2004 when responding to a production shortfall in the country.
Madagascar's appeal to investors stems from its competitive, trainable work force. More than 200 investors, particularly garment manufacturers, were organized under the country'sexport processing zone(EPZ) system since it was established in 1989.The absence of quota limits on textile imports to the European market under theLomé Conventionhelped stimulate this growth.
Growth in output in 1992–97 averaged less than the growth rate of the population. Growth has been taken away by a decline in world coffee demand, and the erratic commitment of the government toeconomic reform.During a period of solid growth from 1997 to 2001, poverty levels remained stubbornly high, especially in rural areas. A six-month political crisis triggered by a dispute over the outcome of the presidential elections held in December 2001 virtually halted economic activity in much of the country in the first half of 2002.Real GDPdropped 12.7% in 2002, inflows offoreign investmentdropped sharply, and the crisis tarnished Madagascar's budding reputation as an AGOA standout and a promising place to invest. After the crisis, the economy rebounded with GDP growth of over 10% in 2003.Currency depreciationand risinginflationin 2004 hampered economic performance, but growth for the year reached 5.3%, with inflation reaching around 25% at the end of the year.In 2005, inflation was brought under control by tight monetary policy of raising theTaux Directeur(central bank rate) to 16% and tightening reserve requirements for banks. Thus growth was expected to reach around 6.5% in 2005.
During Ravalomanana's presidency, the government adopted a series of business laws and regulations, including the commercial companies law(2003), labor law(2003), regulations on the application of commercial companies law(2004), public procurement law(2004), competition law(2005), foreign exchange law(2006), investment law(2007), and free zones and free enterprises law(2007).
Despite a wealth of abundant and diverse natural resources, Madagascar is one of the world's poorest countries. Madagascar holds great potential for agricultural development, mainly due to the large variety of soil types and climatic diversity. Nevertheless,natural hazards(cyclones,drought,locustinvasions) combined with old-fashioned farming practices limit production.
The standard of living of the Malagasy population has been declining dramatically over the past 25 years. The country has gone from being a net exporter of agricultural products in the 1960s to a net importer since 1971. Inappropriate traditional agricultural methods cause soil to erode and soil quality to decline, and the basis of survival for Madagascar's people is under serious threat.
As of 2018, only 15% of the population of Madagascar has access to electricity.By 2023, this has increased to 34%.Madagascar has a technically feasible hydropower potential of about 180,000 GWh. Less than 1% has been developed so far, with 162 MW of installed hydro capacity producing 61% of the country's electricity.The country has enormous potential for exploiting solar power, but general infrastructure is still lacking.
In 2000, Madagascar embarked on the preparation of aPoverty Reduction Strategy Paper(PRSP) under theHeavily indebted poor countries(HIPC) Initiative. The boards of the IMF and of theWorld Bankconcurred in December 2000 that the country was eligible under the HIPC Initiative, and Madagascar reached the decision point fordebt relief. On March 1, 2001, the IMF Board granted the country $103 million for 2001–03 under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGR). Resources were intended for improving access to health, education, rural roads, water, and direct support to communities. In addition, on March 7, 2001, theParis Clubapproved a debt cancellation of $161 million. On February 28, 2001, theAfrican Development Bank(ADB) approved under the HIPC a debt cancellation of $71.46 million and granted in June 2001 an additional credit of $20 million to fight againstAIDSandpoverty.
Partly as a result of these credits but also as a result of previous reforms, average GDP growth exceeded the population growth rate of 2.8% in 1997 (3.5%), 1998 (3.9%), 1999 (4.7%) and 2000 (4.8%).
In October 2004, the boards of the IMF and theWorld Bankdetermined that Madagascar had reached the completion point under the enhanced HIPC Initiative.
The following table shows the main economic indicators in 1980–2023.
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%:2.3%highest 10%:34.9% (1993)
Industrial production growth rate:5% (1999 est.)
Electricity – production:1.35 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity – production by source:fossil fuel:69.5%hydro:30.5%nuclear:0%other:0% (2009)
Electricity – consumption:1.256 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity – exports:0 kWh (2010)
Electricity – imports:0 kWh (2010)
Exchange rates:Malagasy ariary (MGA) per US dollar -
2,195 (2012 est.)
2,025.1 (2011 est.)
2,090 (2010 est.)
1,956.2 (2009)
1,654.78 (2008)
The population below the poverty line is 50 percent.}