Economy of Madagascar

The economy of Madagascar is a market economy and is supported by Madagascar's well-established agricultural industry and emerging tourism, textile and mining industries. Malagasy agriculture produces tropical staple crops such as rice and cassava, as well as cash crops such as vanilla and coffee. Madagascar's wealth of natural resources supports its sizable mining industry. Additionally, Madagascar's status as a developing nation exempts Malagasy exports from customs protocol in some areas, notably the United States and European Union. These exemptions have supported the growth of the Malagasy textile industry. Despite Madagascar's natural resources and developing industries, the 2009 Malagasy political crisis—considered by the international community to be an illegal coup[13]—deterred foreign investments in Madagascar and caused the Malagasy economy to decline.[14] Foreign investments have resumed following the resumption of elections in early 2014. At 2018, Madagascar is one of the world's fastest-growing economies.

Economy of Madagascar

Capital Antananarivo
Currency	Malagasy ariary (MGA)
Fiscal year	calendar year
Trade organisations	WTO African Union
Country group	Developing/Emerging[1] Low-income economy[2]
Statistics
Population	26,955,737(2020)[3]
GDP	$9,769 billion (nominal, 2020 est.)[4] $50,628 billion (PPP, 2020 est.)[4]
GDP rank	119th (CIA, nominal)
GDP growth	4.2% (2018) 5.1% (2019) 5.2% (2020e) 5.3% (2021e)[5] [4]
GDP per capita	USD 1,776$ (2020)[4]
GDP by sector	services (60.3%), agriculture (23,7%), industry (16%) (2017 est.)
Inflation (CPI)	7.8% (2017 est.)
Gini coefficient	42.6 medium (2012)[6]
Human Development Index	0.521 low (2018)[7] (162th) 0.386 low IHDI (2018)[8]
Labour force	13.40 million (2017 est.)
Unemployment	1.8%[9]
Main industries	meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile manufacturing, paper, petroleum, tourism,
Ease-of-doing-business rank	161th (below average, 2020)[10]
External
Exports	$2.35 billion (2017 est.)[11]
Export goods	coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth, clothing, chromite, petroleum products
Main export partners	France 21.6%  United States 10.6%  Germany 8.8%  China 8.3%  Netherlands 5.7%  Canada 4.9%  Belgium 4.5%  Japan 4.4%  South Africa 4.1% (2013 est.)[12]
Imports	$3.235 billion (2017 est.)[11]
Import goods	capital goods, consumer goods, food
Main import partners	China 19.4%  France 11.9%  India 6.4%  South Africa 5.6%  Bahrain 4.6%  UAE 4.3%  Mauritius 4.2% (2014 est.)[12]
Public finances
Public debt	USD $3.914 billion (2017 est.)
Revenues	USD $1.292 billion
Expenses	USD $1.725 billion
Economic aid	recipient: $838 million (1997)
Main data source: CIA World Fact Book All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars.

Agriculture

Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is Madagascar's largest industry and employs 82% of its labor force.[12] Madagascar's varied climate, ranging from tropical along the coasts, moderate in the highlands and arid in the south, allows for the cultivation of tropical crops such as rice, cassava, beans and bananas.[12] In 2011, agricultural products—especially cloves, vanilla, cacao, sugar, pepper, and coffee—accounted for Madagascar's top twelve exports by value.[15] Madagascar produces the second largest vanilla harvest in the world and Malagasy vanilla accounts for about a quarter of the global vanilla market.[16]

Textiles

Exports from Madagascars' Export Processing Zones, located around Antananarivo and Antsirabe, account for the majority of garment exports[17] and are largely exempt from customs restrictions in the United States under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)[18] and in the European Union under the Everything But Arms (EBA) agreement.[19]

Mining

Main article: Mining industry of Madagascar

A small but growing part of the economy is based on mining of ilmenite, with investments emerging in recent years, particularly near Tulear and Fort Dauphin.[20] Mining corporation Rio Tinto Group started production at its Fort Dauphin mine in January 2009,[21] following several years of preparation. The mining project is highly controversial, with Friends of the Earth and other environmental organizations filing reports to detail their concerns about the mine's effect on the environment and local communities.[22] Gemstone mining is also an important part of Madagascar's economy.

Several major projects are underway in the mining and oil and gas sectors that, if successful, will give a significant boost. In the mining sector, these include the development of coal at Sakoa and nickel near Tamatave. The Ambatovy nickel mine (Sherrit International 40%, Sumitomo 27.5%, Korea Resources 27.5%, SNC-Lavalin 5%) is a huge operation and has cost USD $4.76 million to date [23] and is due to start production in 2011. In oil, Madagascar Oil is developing the massive onshore heavy oil field at Tsimiroro and ultra heavy oil field at Bemolanga.

Tulear

Investment climate

Former President Marc Ravalomanana of Madagascar

Following the 2002 political crisis, the government attempted to set a new course and build confidence, in coordination with international financial institutions and 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 the World Bank in Paris in 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.[24] 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 President Marc Ravalomanana was 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-foods TIKO company, and is known for attempting to apply many of the lessons learned in the world of business to running the government. Prior to Ravalomanana'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’s export processing zone (EPZ) system since it was established in 1989. The absence of quota limits on textile imports to the European market under the Lome Convention helped stimulate this growth.

Port Toamasina

Growth in output in 1992–97 averaged less than the growth rate of the population. Growth has been held back by a decline in world coffee demand, and the erratic commitment of the government to economic reform.[25][26] 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 GDP dropped 12.7% in 2002, inflows of foreign investment dropped 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 depreciation and rising inflation in 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 the Taux 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[27] (2003), labor law[28] (2003), regulations on the application of commercial companies law[29] (2004), public procurement law[30] (2004), competition law[31] (2005), foreign exchange law[32] (2006), investment law[33] (2007), and free zones and free enterprises law[34] (2007).

Food security, vulnerability and risk management

Vibrant Antananarivo is the political and economic capital of Madagascar

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, locust invasions) 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.[35]

Poverty reduction

Local market vendors.

In 2000, Madagascar embarked on the preparation of a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. The boards of the IMF and of the World Bank concurred in December 2000 that the country was eligible under the HIPC Initiative, and Madagascar reached the decision point for debt 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, the Paris Club approved a debt cancellation of $161 million. On February 28, 2001, the African 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 against AIDS and poverty.

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 the World Bank determined that Madagascar had reached the completion point under the enhanced HIPC Initiative.

Facts and figures

The following table shows the main economic indicators in 1980–2017.[36] In 2006, Madagascar was released a large part of the government debt.

Year	1985	1990	1995	2000	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
GDP in $ (PPP)	7.82 Mrd.	9.28 Mrd.	12.39 Mrd.	13.75 Mrd.	18.00 Mrd.	22.72 Mrd.	24.68 Mrd.	26.97 Mrd.	29.48 Mrd.	28.78 Mrd.	28.72 Mrd.	29.74 Mrd.	31.20 Mrd.	32.42 Mrd.	34.10 Mrd.	35.54 Mrd.	37.50 Mrd.	39.77 Mrd.
GDP per capita in $ (PPP)	895	929	1,073	1,022	1,143	1,242	1,311	1,392	1,479	1,381	1,362	1,372	1,400	1,414	1,446	1,466	1,504	1,551
GDP growth (real)	0.8 %	1.2 %	3.1 %	1.7 %	4.5 %	4.8 %	5.4 %	6.4 %	7.2 %	−4.7 %	0.3 %	1.5 %	3.0 %	2.3 %	3.3 %	3.1 %	4.2 %	4.1 %
Inflation (in Percent)	18.3 %	10.6 %	11.9 %	49.0 %	10.7 %	18.4 %	10.8 %	10.3 %	9.3 %	9.0 %	9.2 %	9.5 %	5.7 %	5.8 %	6.1 %	7.4 %	6.7 %	8.1 %
Government debt (Percentage of GDP)	...	...	118 %	116 %	107 %	86 %	37 %	33 %	31 %	34 %	32 %	32 %	33 %	34 %	35 %	36 %	38 %	37 %

Graphical depiction of Madagascar's product exports in 28 color-coded categories.

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)

See also

• Economy of Africa
• Illegal logging in Madagascar
• Tourism in Madagascar
• United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

References

1. "World Economic Outlook Database, April 2019". IMF.org. International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
2. "World Bank Country and Lending Groups". datahelpdesk.worldbank.org. World Bank. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
3. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ma.html
4. https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2019/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=63&pr.y=14&sy=2017&ey=2024&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=674&s=NGDP_R%2CNGDP_RPCH%2CNGDP%2CNGDPD%2CPPPGDP%2CNGDP_D%2CNGDPRPC%2CNGDPRPPPPC%2CNGDPPC%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPPC%2CPPPSH%2CPPPEX%2CNID_NGDP%2CNGSD_NGDP%2CPCPI%2CPCPIPCH%2CPCPIE%2CPCPIEPCH%2CTM_RPCH%2CTMG_RPCH%2CTX_RPCH%2CTXG_RPCH%2CLP%2CGGR%2CGGR_NGDP%2CGGX%2CGGX_NGDP%2CGGXCNL%2CGGXCNL_NGDP%2CGGXONLB%2CGGXONLB_NGDP%2CGGXWDG%2CGGXWDG_NGDP%2CNGDP_FY%2CBCA%2CBCA_NGDPD&grp=0&a=
6. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI?locations=MG
7. "Human Development Index (HDI)". hdr.undp.org. HDRO (Human Development Report Office) United Nations Development Programme. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
8. "Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI)". hdr.undp.org. HDRO (Human Development Report Office) United Nations Development Programme. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
9. https://www.indexmundi.com/madagascar/unemployment_rate.html
10. Corporation">https://www.doingbusiness.org/en/data/exploreeconomies/madagascar
11. https://theodora.com/wfbcurrent/madagascar/madagascar_economy.html
12. United States of America. "The World Factbook". Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
13. "'SADC does not, cannot recognise Rajoelina'". Independent Online. Agence France-Presse. 19 March 2009.
14. Republic of Madagascar (3 June 2014). "Letter of Intent, Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies, and Technical Memorandum of Understanding" (PDF). International Monetary Fund. International Monetary Fund. p. 4. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
15. United Nations. "Commodities by Country". FAOSTAT. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
16. United Nations (16 June 2009). "Vanilla: Post-harvest Operations" (PDF). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. p. 14. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
17. "export.gov". www.export.gov. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
18. United States of America. "AGOA Eligibility". International Trade Administration. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
19. European Union (30 April 2013). "Everything But Arms (EBA) – Who benefits?" (PDF). European Commission: Trade. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
20. Madagascar – Mining: Heavy Minerals Mining Archived 2008-03-31 at the Wayback Machine. Mbendi.co.za. Retrieved on 2012-05-28.
21. Media releases – Rio Tinto starts ilmenite production in Madagascar Archived 2011-09-30 at the Wayback Machine. Rio Tinto. Retrieved on 2012-05-28.
22. Rio Tinto's Madagascar mining project. Foe.co.uk. Retrieved on 2012-05-28.
23. "Sherritt Provides Update on the Ambatovy Project" (PDF). Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-01.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link). sherritt.com (2010-12-17)
24. "Made in Madagascar: Exporting Handicrafts to the U.S. Market: a Project with the UN Public-Private Alliance for Rural Development; Final Report", A Project with the UN Public-Private Alliance for Rural Development.
25. FAO Statistic Yearbook 2010 – Resources
26. The World Bank. Madagascar at a glance, 2/25/11
27. "Loi n° 2003-036 sur les sociétés commerciales". mofcom.gov.cn. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
28. "Loi n° 2003-044 portant Code du travail". mofcom.gov.cn. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
29. "Décret n° 2004-453 fixant les modalités d'application de la Loi sur les sociétés commerciales". mofcom.gov.cn. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
30. "Loi n° 2004-009 portant Code des marchés publics". mofcom.gov.cn. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
31. "Loi n° 2005-020 sur la concurrence". mofcom.gov.cn. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
32. "Loi n° 2006-008 portant Code des changes". mofcom.gov.cn. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
33. "Loi n° 2007-036 sur les investissements à Madagascar". mofcom.gov.cn. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
34. "Loi n° 2007-037 sur les zones et entreprises franches à Madagascar". mofcom.gov.cn. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
35. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit web site
36. "Report for Selected Countries and Subjects". Retrieved 2018-09-04.

Bibliography

• FAO Statistic Yearbook 2010 – Resources
• The World Bank. Madagascar at a glance, 2/25/11, PDF

External links

• Economy of Madagascar at Curlie
• MBendi Madagascar overview
• Madagascar latest trade data on ITC Trade Map
• Why is Madagascar so poor?

The population below the provety line is 50 percent