(Ecofin Agency) - The World Bank approved $140 million in favor of the rural transport support project in Madagascar. In addition to improving transport connectivity in rural areas, this project is also expected to boost community access to economic and social opportunities.

For a first phase, the government is focusing on the agricultural regions of Alaotra Mangoro, Anosy, and Atsimo-Atsinanana where it plans to build and rehabilitate 148 km of secondary roads and 500 km of provincial and communal roads.

Such an initiative will reduce transport costs, increase people's access to basic social services and provide them with more social and economic opportunities. Subsequently, it will improve crop and fisheries production as well as the development of agro-industry in the regions.

“This project is much more than just road construction and rehabilitation,” says Marie-Chantal Uwanyiligira, World Bank Operations Manager in Madagascar.

“The project also aims to leverage the development of digital technologies to maximize the impact of rehabilitating these roads to improve connectivity and rural livelihoods. We hope that this innovative approach will be replicated elsewhere as the transport sector becomes a real government priority,” she added.

Romuald Ngueyap