Standardization and compliance with quality requirements are essential for Malagasy companies to access the African market and leverage the opportunities offered by the AfCFTA.
Madagascar is focusing on standardization to increase its exports to Africa. On October 16, in Antaninarenina, the Ministry of Trade and Consumption, through the Madagascar Standards Bureau (BNM), highlighted the importance of meeting quality requirements to access the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) markets. This area represents nearly 1.4 billion consumers and a cumulative GDP estimated at 3.4 trillion dollars. For Malagasy companies, the challenge is to convert this commercial potential into concrete market opportunities.
“The implementation of standards and their application are major issues for allowing Malagasy products to access more markets,” emphasized Haingotiana Andriamadison, Minister of Trade and Consumption, during the celebration of World Standards Day.
Held under the theme “Standards, Quality, and AfCFTA: Strengthening the Competitiveness of Malagasy Products in African Markets,” the meeting reiterated the role of compliance in the development of trade. Trade liberalization alone does not guarantee the sale of goods. Companies must also meet the technical and regulatory requirements of importing countries. Otherwise, their products risk facing obstacles in target markets, even when customs duties are reduced.
Standardization is thus an economic issue for producers, processors, and exporters. Mastering quality can strengthen buyer confidence, facilitate trade negotiations, and foster sustainable partnerships. To meet these requirements, however, companies must be able to finance inspections, adapt their manufacturing processes, and modernize their equipment.
Haingotiana Andriamadison also stressed the need to align Malagasy standards with international standards to facilitate the marketing of local products abroad. For small and medium-sized enterprises, technical support will be crucial so that compliance does not become an additional barrier to export.
The Director General of the Madagascar Standards Bureau, Sitraka Zarasoa Rakotomahefa, insisted on the role of standards in accessing regional markets. Their development and application are part of the national standardization policy and strategy.
Expanding market outlets could allow companies to increase production, boost revenue, and create jobs. Local farmers, artisans, and processors could particularly benefit from increased demand, provided they meet the criteria of African buyers.
The government plans to set up a national committee to better coordinate actions related to this trade integration. The African Development Bank is also providing technical and financial support to Madagascar’s support program. Beyond the growth of exports, the goal is to make quality a lever for economic development for the benefit of local producers and businesses.
Captured & Published at: 2026-10-19 05:54:10 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/10/commerce-les-entreprises-soumises-aux.html
