For Immediate Release
Press Release
ANTANANARIVO – In recent years, the Malagasy Customs Administration has made notable progress in the maritime sector. However, significant improvements remain to be made, especially in the air transportation sector.
To this end, the U.S. government has joined forces with the Ministry of Economy and Finance Customs Administration and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Antananarivo to launch the new U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Support to Customs activity.
This partnership will contribute to improving airport procedures, specifically as it relates to the management of airport passengers and processing of goods. This includes incorporating express delivery services and e-commerce.
A two-year project, this initiative promises to improve the efficiency and transparency of Madagascar’s current customs management system and help the Customs Administration customs implement their strategic plan for modernization by promoting awareness of standards and improvement of workflow within the Malagasy Customs.
During a launch event on March 12, 2024 at Air Services Cargo in Antananarivo, the U.S. Ambassador Claire A. Pierangelo, underscored the importance of this new partnership.
“Improving the transparency and efficiency of customs processes can have cascading positive effects on Madagascar’s economy and will help build the trust necessary to increase business investment in the country,” Ambassador Pierangelo said. “We are pleased to support Customs in this important step towards the sustainable development of Madagascar.”
The activity will be implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Madagascar. It aims to improve Customs’ risk management through the implementation of new platforms for air cargo and maritime data processing and the integration of modern systems within existing platforms.
They will improve workflow management by bringing in external experts to help socialize new digital platforms and management processes and focus on training both Customs staff and private sector users in navigating processes and procedures to improve compliance and efficiency.
“UNDP is proud to be contributing towards Madagascar’s enhanced commercial access in a world where trade and commercial exchange are key pillars in achieving the country’s sustainable development” Resident Representative in Madagascar Natasha van Rijn said.
Once the new systems are in place and both Customs’ staff and users are familiar with the processes, it is expected that both customs revenue and trade with Madagascar will increase and clearance time for air and sea shipments will take as little as two days.
The United States also supports trade and business investment with Madagascar through the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the USAID/Prosper Africa Trade and Investment activity, and over $28 million of investment through USAID activities in cacao, spices, aquaculture, and impact investment.
U.S. Embassy Madagascar