Tourism growing in the 1st half
The Big Island welcomed 150,757 external tourists in the first six months of 2025, According to statistics disseminated by the Ministry of Tourism and Crafts. The country's attendance is up to 19,5 % compared to 2024 and exceeds for the first time that of the first half of 2019, before the health crisis (+2 %). The objective of the Malagasy authorities is to welcome a million visitors by 2028.
The Antananarivo cable car enters service
President Rajoelina inaugurated the first line of the Malagasy capital cable car on August 15. The line has 7 stations and 198 cabins which are currently running four hours a day, during rush hour : From 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the afternoon. Between 40,000 and 60,000 daily travelers are expected, as well as a reduction in traffic jams between the districts served, D'Anosy à Taungoo. The price of the ticket has been set at 3,000 Ariarys (approximately 57 cents of euros), which makes it accessible to the middle classes. Built by the French company Poma, The infrastructure is funded by a loan of 28 million euros in the French State, A loan of 88 million euros from Société Générale (Guaranteed by Bpifrance), forty million euros remaining at the expense of the Malagasy state.
E-Ariary in the experimental phase
The central bank of Madagascar has launched late May 2025, The digital version of the country's official currency. For ten months, different technical solutions will be assessed, as well as the use cases and the relevance of the circulation of such a currency, In addition to the various existing means of payment.
Three portal cranes for the port of Toamasina
Madagascar International Container Terminal Services Limited (MICTSL), The container terminal management company in the port of Toamasina (Fat)received three RTG type gantry cranes in early August in early August (rubber tyred gantry crane). Mounted on tires, They allow intermodal operations for the loading and storage of containers. MICTSL thus anticipates the significant growth in containerized traffic expected in Toamasina in a few years, When the port extension work is completed. Currently, The port has a maximum treatment capacity of 250,000 EVP (twenty foot equivalent) per year. This figure could quintuple in a decade, If Toamasina succeeds in capturing a substantial transhipment traffic.
A transport aircraft for the air force
The Malagasy Air Force, which does not communicate little on its fleet of walking devices, In June received one of the three transport aircraft promised by President Rajoelina. This is a let 410,Czech manufacturing twin -turboprop, which can transport 19 people or 6 civilians. Capable of landing and taking off on short tracks, He will be able to intervene during rescue operations after natural disasters, carry out coastal surveillance missions or parachute drops. Two other let 410 must follow, on an indefinite date. The Malagasy Air Force has not had such a device since 2021, When she had to return the Casa CN-235 bought on credit from the French company Sofema, but of which she could no longer honor the payment deadlines.
US customs duties : It will be 15 %
Initially announced at 47 %, The rate of American customs duties applied to Malagasy products are actually 15 % amount, Since the beginning of August. Vanilla and textile products are the two main goods concerned. Madagascar's dominant position on the world vanilla market suggests that Malagasy pods should remain competitive on the American market. Ugandan vanilla is taxed at the same rate and that from Indonesia, at a higher rate (19 %).The situation is more worrying for the textile sector, who had long benefited from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Ago), allowing products from many countries in the south to enter the United States without being taxed. AGOA is suspended until September 30, and the rate of 15 % has been applied anyway since the beginning of August, While competition is much more lively, in this sector, Between manufacturers of many African and Asia countries.
An embassy in Abu Dhabi
Madagascar opened an embassy in Abu Dhabi in June, Illustration of strengthening relations between the Big Island and the United Arab Emirates. In February 2024, President Andry Rajoelina had been invited to the World Government Summit in Abu Dhabi, where a congress on investment was also held.
He was again at the end of May in the Emirates, where a Madagascar-Dubai Business Forum was organized. In September 2024, The Emirats company had opened its Dubaïtananarive line and went from four to six weekly services in April 2025.
