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Doing business & staying in touch

Meetings tend to be formal with handshakes and titles observed. Lightweight suits are advised and business cards exchanged (red ink shouldn’t be used in Madagascar as it has negative connotations). Interpreters can be supplied by the embassy if pre-arranged well in advance.

Office hours: 

Mon-Fri 0930-1700/1800.

Economy: 

Agriculture accounts for more than 25% of GDP and employs 80% of the population. Coffee is produced for foreign exchange, rice and cassava for domestic consumption. Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the primary source of fuel, are serious concerns. The country suffers from frequent cyclones which have done severe damage to agriculture in the past.

Madagascar has appreciable mineral deposits which are being exploited, whilst the manufacturing industry, mainly textiles and food processing, accounts for 15% of GDP.

The economy grew by 4.7% in 2006, with inflation at 10.8%. The country continues to rely heavily on loans and grants. In 2005, Madagascar became the first state to receive development aid from the US under a scheme to reward nations that Washington considers to be promoting democracy and market reforms.

Exports of apparel have boomed in recent years primarily due to duty-free access to the US.

Poverty reduction and combating corruption will be the centerpieces of economic policy for the next few years.

GDP: 

US$7.3 billion (2008).

Main exports: 

Coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar and cotton.

Main imports: 

Capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods and food.

Main trading partners: 

France, USA, China, Mauritius and Germany.

Telephone: 

Country code: 261. For cheap calls buy a telephone card and use a public telephone booth. Cards can be purchased at post offices and most hotels.

Mobile phone: 

Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Coverage reaches major cities and main roads but is scarce in rural areas.

Internet: 

Public Internet access exists in large cities; there are a few Internet cafés in Antananarivo but connections tend to be slow.

Post: 

Airmail to Europe takes at least seven days and surface mail three to four months.

Media: 

Ousted President Ravalomanana owns the Malagasy Broadcasting System, which operates MBS TV and Radio MBS. Many private radio stations in the capital are owned by pro-Ravalomanana politicians. Although nationwide radio and TV broadcasting remain the monopoly of the state, there are hundreds of private local radio and TV stations. A boom in privately-owned FM radio stations and more critical political reporting by the print media followed a 1990s law on press freedom. However, during the island’s recent political turmoil many Malagasy journalists have faced censorship, threats, and arrest for reporting contentious issues or voicing critical opinion.

Press: 

• There are no English-language newspapers.
• The main dailies are published in French and/or Malagasy.
• These include La Gazette de la Grande Ile, Madagascar Tribune and Midi Madagasikara.
• Feon'ny Merina is a weekly publication for Merina people of Malay origin.

Television: 

• Television Malagasy (TVM) is state-owned.
• Radio-Television Analamanga is privately run, as is Madagascar TV.
• The commercial MBS TV is owned by Ravalomanana.

Radio: 

• Malagasy National Radio (RNM) is state-owned.
• Privately owned stations include Radio Don Bosco (Roman Catholic FM station), Radio Tsioka Vao and Radio Korail.
• Radio MBS is commerical and owned by Ravalomanana.

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