Africa - Airport PPP for Madagascar

Improvements in country’s economy sought via PFI route

Madagascar is planning to involve the public and private sectors in the management of airport facilities to make air transport more competitive on the island. “Our economic programme envisages the establishment of PPPs to make the Malagasy economy competitive. Under this framework, the country’s main airport and others will be turned over to private management or leased,” said deputy Prime Minister in charge of economic affairs, Zara Manitranja Ramandimbiarison.

The announcement came as negotiations for a new air transport agreement between France and Madagascar opened.

The minister also intends to take advantage of the negotiations to open its air space to enable more airlines to land passengers in Madagascar. “The opening of our air space to competition is part of a development plan of our air transport sector to enable us to exploit our tourism potential to the maximum. Therefore, we want to include this notion in our agreement with France, in accordance with the Chicago convention,” Manitranja Ramandimbiarison said.