Madagascar plans road upgrades to reduce travel time in the south
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The Madagascar government plans to launch the third phase of the Corridor Development and Trade Facilitation Project (PACFC III) in Antananarivo from 28 to 31 October 2026. This initiative aims to improve connectivity and trade in the southern region of the country between 2025 and 2030.
The project intends to reduce the travel time between Bevoay and Morombe on the temporary national road RNT55.
Authorities aim to cut the current four hour journey down to one hour and 30 minutes for the 78 km stretch by 2030. Other planned infrastructure includes a 22 km dike road in Fiherenana to protect Toliara from floods and the reinforcement of the Manombo and Belalanda bridges on the RN9. Beyond road construction, the program seeks to streamline trade by modernizing customs procedures between Toliara and Beira in Mozambique.
The project also plans to standardize the ports of Nosy Be, Antsiranana, and Vohémar. To further simplify commerce, the government intends to establish a metrology center, a customs academy, and a single maritime window to lower transport costs and administrative delays for businesses. The African Development Fund, part of the African Development Bank Group, provides the primary funding for this phase.
This follows two previous phases where the European Union co-financed the paving of 165 km of road on the RN9 and 45 km on the RNT12A. Following the official launch, the government will start work on the RNT55 and evaluate initial activities managed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
