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Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina attended a ceremony on 21 August to lay the foundation stone for the construction of the Mangoky Bridge in the country.

The bridge will be the longest in Madagascar at 880 metres and is planned to connect the Atsimo-Andrefana region in the south and the Menabe region in the west. Both regions are home to some of the country’s most important agricultural and tourism assets.

The Mangoky bridge will also reduce travel times and improve transportation links between these two regions. About 2.4 million people are expected to benefit from the scheme.

The total cost of the project is estimated at about MGA244.8 billion (US$54.3 million). It is being funded by loans from various donors including the Saudi Fund for Development, which will contribute US$20 million; the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) with US$20 million; the OPEC Fund for International Development with US$10 million; and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development with US$10 million. The government of Madagascar will cover the remainder of the costs.

🎥 | جانب مصور من مشاركة #الصندوق_السعودي_للتنمية في وضع حجر الأساس لمشروع إنشاء جسر على نهر مانقوكي في جمهورية #مدغشقر والذي يسهم الصندوق في تمويله.
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Footage from #SFD’s participation in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Mangoky Bridge in the Republic of #Madagascar, an… pic.twitter.com/5OSNwcamoJ

— الصندوق السعودي للتنمية (@SaudiFund_Dev) August 20, 2023

The work involves building a pre-stressed concrete bridge with a length of 880 metres and a width of 7 metres, in addition to two sidewalks with a width of 1.35 metres on each side. Approach roads will also be constructed at a total length of about 7 kilometres. 

“This is a major milestone in our efforts to improve the infrastructure of Madagascar, and we must continue to work hand in hand with development partners in order to build a prosperous future in every region of our country," said President Rajoelina at the Mangoky bridge ceremony. 

According to a World Bank report in 2017, the lack of a road network and other infrastructure in the deep south of Madagascar, of which the Atsimo-Andrefana region is a part, contributes to its economic isolation. 

“The Malagasy government is making all efforts to fight against isolation,” said Minister of Public Works Andrianatrehina Ndriamihaja Livah at the ceremony. “This is why we strongly encourage people to take care of these infrastructures and protect them for the benefit of the development of the south.”

Photo: Foundation stone-laying ceremony (© Official Twitter account of the Saudi Fund for Development )