Country profile Madagascar 2016

Abstract

The Malagasy economy is pursuing a phase of timid recovery following a prolonged political crisis (2009-2013) which perturbed the economy and whose repercussions may still be felt in Madagascar society. Growth, estimated at 4.1 per cent in 2016, against 3.1 per cent in 2015, looks like picking up further in 2017 and continuing to rise in coming years, buoyed by diversified exports, renewed investments, and a relatively dynamic industrial sector. At the beginning of the 1990s, Madagascar was one of the front-runners among African countries endeavoring to adopt an ambitious industrial policy based on tax incentives and free zones. It was one of the few countries that managed to implement such a policy successfully, which led to the emergence of an export-oriented, job-creating garment industry. Although this sector was sorely tried by the 2002 and 2009-2013 crises, it continues to be a heavyweight in exports, urban employment and investment. It is also a sector undergoing change, which attracts new investors and activities. To what extent can it be an integral part of the new ambition of the Government of Madagascar for inclusive and shared growth? What prospects are there for the Malagasy industrial sector, given the requirement of environmental sustainability in a country with one of the world’s highest levels of vulnerability to climate change? That is the purpose of the thematic analysis provided in this country profile.