During a meeting with the executive secretary of the regional grouping, Elias Magosi, the Madagascan president, Andry Rajoelina, called on the countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to increase investment in the agricultural and industrial sectors to stimulate regional economic growth.
He stressed that SADC must increase investment in food production, given the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on food availability in Africa.
In this regard, he said Madagascar is considering increasing rice production by 25% to ensure national food security and export the surplus.
Madagascar has undertaken other measures to improve agricultural production, dedicating a 100-kilometer pipeline for irrigated agriculture in the south of the country, which frequently experiences water shortages, according to the Malagasy president.
Similarly, the country has launched the construction of its first-ever highway that will link the city of Tamatave to the capital Antananarivo, to connect farmers and facilitate the movement of goods, services, and people.
Regarding industrial development, Rajoelina noted that SADC member states are called upon to support the value chain of the industrial sector to create jobs and reduce the export of raw materials.
In this context, the “One District, One Factory” program has been launched, allowing for the creation of at least one factory in each of the country’s 119 districts.