Seven themes were on the agenda during the conferences held in Toliara, with the financing of youth-led projects standing out. The enthusiasm of young people for entrepreneurship has been palpable over the last seven years, as highlighted during the panels at the ‘Atsimo Andrefana Business Week’ in Toliara. Young graduates in the region have established businesses in agri-food processing, audiovisual production, handicrafts, and digital services.
Most of these young people have benefited from financial support from programs such as the Integrated Growth Pole (PIC) or ministerial projects to launch their activities. Cynthia Lapamiarisoa, head of the Toliara-based incubation structure ‘Saramba Initiative’, noted that while new initiatives are emerging, they remain insufficient. She explained that despite training nearly a thousand young people and incubating seventy women since 2021, many promising ideas fail to launch due to a lack of subsequent financial resources.
Another young entrepreneur shared her struggle, explaining that without access to elite schools or family wealth, she has had to work for others while trying to secure funding for her own project. Meanwhile, Gaël Mamonjy, co-founder of the digital company ‘Raiky’, called for greater government involvement and support, such as immersion trips for young entrepreneurs.
In response, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Alain Désiré Rasambany, acknowledged that access to financing remains a major challenge. He stated that the ministry lacks sufficient resources to meet the enormous demand from across the country. Furthermore, the Minister revealed that external funding mechanisms often face obstacles due to discrepancies in national legislation, making it nearly impossible to transfer funds for projects like sports complexes.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-05 06:08:47 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/business-week-debats-sur-lacces-au.html
