
Interview with Andry Ravalomanda, Director General of the EDBM since 2018. This former Director General in charge of foreign trade at the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and former Director General in charge of Private Sector Development at the Ministry of Industry and Private Sector Development, who attended Yale University as part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship program, wishes to place Madagascar in a logic of growth and openness.
Currently, what are the main sectors suitable for investment?
In the current context where post-Covid resilience demonstrates the best potential, the main sectors conducive to investment in Madagascar, in the short and medium term, are:
• The information technology sector which has grown because of or thanks to containment measures.
• Organic farming for exceptional products from Madagascar (vanilla, spices, fruits, etc.)
• The sector of industry and pharmaco-scientific research as well as essential oils for the trend of well-being and products from our unique biodiversity which have virtues recognized throughout the world.
In the longer term, these are the six usual growth sectors, namely: agribusiness, mining, ICT, light industry, especially textiles, tourism and energy.
What role should the private sector play in the economic recovery of the Big Island after the pandemic which has impacted all countries?
Economic recovery must be achieved for the private sector and with the private sector, as this sector is the main source of jobs and added value in Madagascar. To achieve this, it is essential to facilitate the business environment so that the private sector can develop. This will help accelerate the country's economic recovery. Furthermore, 90% of formal businesses in Madagascar are SMEs or VSEs. Specific support must therefore be put in place to help them develop their potential.
What are the main measures implemented to improve the business climate?
To improve the business climate in Madagascar, several measures have been taken and implemented:
• The implementation of an action plan for reforms linked to the business climate
• Strengthening the Public Private Dialogue (DPP) with the involvement of the Presidency of the Republic
• Ongoing work on improving the legal framework (investment law, tourism code, etc.)
• The dematerialization of business creation is now operational as well as the submission of files online.
Do innovation and technology have a role to play in Madagascar's sustainable development?
It should be noted and recalled that sustainable development involves taking into account the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of a company's activities. Thus, technology and innovation enable a qualitative leap in achieving the SDGs in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, productivity, reach, impact measurement, proximity, and added value. This obviously requires investment in human skills and connectivity infrastructure.
You like to quote Mahatma Gandhi: "Be the change you wish to see in the world." How does this translate concretely into your actions at the EDBM?
Within our activities, we aim to promote information technology. With this in mind, the Economic Development Board of Madagascar is investing in the digitalization of its services. We also promote gender equality; out of our 85 employees, we have 44 men and 41 women. Furthermore, giving young people a chance is one of our mottos. The average age is 39.