I had a small company with three employees in Madagascar during 10 years.
Unless you do sth illegal or are in the gold or precious stones business,
you cannot get rich in Madagascar. Nevertheless I do not regret anything,
because I was able to realize my keenest dreams.
I left in 2015, because I could not stand the general degradation of the country anymore after the coup in 2009 and 5 years of transitional government: Criminality (in about 25-40% of the criminal acts the Police or Military are actively involved - either by renting their uniforms or arms or as a head of a gang), extensive corruption, horrible environmental degradation - between May and November ALL the country is burnt black and you see thousands of charcoal sacks on the roads.
A big part of my heart will stay there forever, and when I see photos on FB of my friends, of the always clear blue skies, the white sands of the beaches... I want to cry. But blue skies and white sand is not everything in life, and the older you are, the more vulnerable you become - and I definitely do not want to be attacked by a gang of 8-10 men. Within 2 years, 15 Frenchmen were attacked, tortured and killed in their houses - and generally the real criminals are never identified and punished. In many cases, even high people from the government are involved - for examle in bank robberies.
Get informed before you invest your money, and don't dream!
You will find plenty of people who want to help you (and earn money with you)!
If you want to invest in tourism, ask some people who have been trying to sell their hotels since several years. The number of tourists coming to Madagascar is ridiculously low. There were armed attacks and robberies in Montagne d'Ambre, Ambalavao and in a Vezo village, among others.
In case you are still decided to open a business there:
1) Travel to the island for 3 months and make yourself an idea, talk with people -
聽 聽 especially investors who are already there, with your embassy, read the newspapers
聽 聽(in French) online, for ex. La Gazette, Express, Les Nouvelles, Le Midi.聽
2) Never place all your money there - keep some kind of safety in your country: a rented
聽 聽house or apartment, life insurance, well-filled bank account or whatever. Maybe also
聽 聽an online business which makes you independent of earning money in Madagascar.
3) Many people are looking for jobs - 95% of the work in Madagascar is INFORMAL. It
聽 聽 is probably the most informal country of the world (as one of my employees always
聽 聽 said). But the education and vocational training is not comparable with the knowhow
聽 聽 in industrialized countries - you will have to train the people yourself.
4) I made very good experience by testing a guy as a houseboy who was recommended
聽 聽 to me by neighbors. As he made a very good impression, I asked if he wanted to
聽 聽 become an electrical engineer (I needed one), paid his vocational training, a driver's
聽 聽 licence for car and truck and a computer course, and he was extremely happy to be
聽 聽 able to learn and developed very well. I also employed his wife (an analphabet who
聽 聽 speaks only Malagasy) as a housemaid. Whenever I need a gardener or mechanics,
聽 聽 he took care to choose him and negotiated the price. This has pro's and con's, but
聽 聽 life is a compromise...
5) My 3 employees worked with me during all these 10 years, my company had an
聽 聽 excellent reputation, and we were able to realize a lot of good activities; presenting
聽 聽 solar technology at the university and in market places, organizing 3 big exhibitions
聽 聽and a lot of environmental conferences. We were the pioneers in the North-West
聽 聽region.
6) The good thing in Africa is that whenever you suggest an idea to contribute to
聽 聽development, the doors will be open for you, and it is much easier than in any
聽 聽industrial country where everything exists already. But Africa/Madagascar is not for
聽 聽everybody!
7) Very important: Learn Malagasy! Some time ago, a forumer wrote: Mianatra teny gasy,
聽 聽aza mahatoky - sorry, I forgot the third, maybe someone remembers...: Learn the
聽 聽Malagasy language, don't trust anybody and...??
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