Infrastructure
An island under construction
Roads and railroads
Since 2002, the government has committed to maintain the existing network and build new roads. In 2005, 8,982 km of roads were rehabilitated. Road transportation remains the principal mode of transport since 90% of the national transportation of persons and goods rely on it.
The island’s railway network is 895 km long and is made up of two networks: the 732km-long Antsirabe-Antananarivo-Toamasina North network and the 163km-long Fianarantsoa-Manakara South network. The rehabilitation of the entire network will be gradually carried out until 2011.
Ports and airports
The country is today equipped with 55 airports, two of which are accessible to jumbo jets (Ivato and Nosy Be). Air traffic covers the entire Malagasy territory. Five companies operate actually in Madagascar for Internationals flight: Air Madagascar, Air France (member of skyteam), Air Mauritius, Corsair and South Africa Airlines. In 2005, the Malagasy government adopted an open sky policy to develop further this sector.
Madagascar offers a range of harbour networks both for international and national navigation. The island has 17 ports of which Toamasina is the main one for international traffic. One additional international port is expected to be operational in Toalagnaro within the next two years. An extension of the Toamasina port is under construction for the exportation of cobalt and nickel.
Concessioning principal airports for reconstruction as well as privatizing the management of the 400 km Pangalane canal along the East coast will create opportunities for investors.
Energy
There are also investment opportunities in the energy production sector:
- the hydroelectricity potential is estimated at 7,800 MW, with only 150 used;
- the environment promotes wind power because wind speed reaches 8 m/s at 50 m height in the north and 8 to 9 m/s at 50m height in the South.
- The capacity of the solar energy is estimated at 2,000 kw/h per m2 on a year basis.