Madagascar is set to receive a loan of $165 million from the African Development Bank Group to support the third phase of a major infrastructure proje
Madagascar is set to receive a loan of $165 million from the African Development Bank Group to support the third phase of a major infrastructure project to enhance trade corridors across the country.
Sourced from the African Development Fund, the loan will facilitate economic and social integration, particularly in southern Madagascar, by opening transport corridors that connect the region to the rest of the country and Africa. The project will also improve trade facilitation between the ports of Tuléar and Beira.
Trade boost
The initiative is expected to boost national and regional trade, creating new economic opportunities, particularly for the local population. The project will enhance the trade of agricultural products, livestock, and fish, contributing to economic growth and poverty reduction in the region. Furthermore, it aims to improve the livelihoods of rural communities by enhancing access to markets, healthcare, and education, while stimulating entrepreneurship, trade, and sustainable employment opportunities, particularly for women and youth.
Key infrastructure improvements will include upgrading a 78-kilometer stretch of road between Bevoay and Morombe, connecting key agricultural zones. The project will also reconstruct the Manombo bridge and construct two new two-lane bridges spanning 460 meters to improve connectivity. Additionally, the initiative will strengthen Madagascar’s broader economic development by supporting customs operations, port activities, trade businesses, and technology sectors.
“In the long term, the project will support a significant increase in national and intra-regional commercial trade, helping to promote investments,” commented Adam Amoumoun, head of the African Development Bank’s Country Office in Madagascar.