“Madagascar, like many African countries, has rich, abundant natural resources; yet our development has been slow for too long,” he said.  Over the past five years, his Government has taken decisive steps to transform the country, building infrastructure and semi-industrial parks, fighting poverty and supporting the mechanization of agriculture.  It is also accelerating the energy transition to reach 70 per cent green energy production by 2028.  “To do this, we will tap our massive solar, wind and hydroelectric capacity,” he said.  Also drawing attention to the construction of the country’s first highway, the modernizing of transport and the building of thousands of housing units, he said:  “From the East to West, North to South, Madagascar is transforming.”

Noting that he is also the President of the SADC, which brings together 16 countries of southern Africa, he said that 14 of them benefit from the African Growth and Opportunity Act, a United States initiative that offers African countries preferential access to that country’s market, promoting duty-free exports and boosting trade.  Just for the SADC region, this represents 358,000 direct jobs — 60 per cent in the textile sector and the rest across various industries.  “The non-renewal of [that programme] will have serious social consequences,” he warned, adding that it threatens the employment of thousands of young people.  SADC countries export over $11 billion annually to the United States.  Requesting the extension of the Act, he appealed to American partners:  “Let us together choose stability, hope and dignity.”

He also announced that his country will provide several thousand square metres of office space to host a hub for an expanded UN presence on his territory.  Noting the various threats facing Madagascar, he said that current demographic growth is not proportional to economic growth.  In some regions, girls under 18 are already mothers, and most women have an average of five to eight children to care for.  Therefore, his Government has also bolstered the family planning programme.

Madagascar is a “sanctuary of nature”, he said, adding that it is facing deforestation and climate hazards. Cyclones are increasingly frequent and devastating while floods destroy fields and threaten farmers’ harvests and incomes.  Stressing the importance of climate justice, he said polluting countries must take responsibility; the promised financing for adaptation must be delivered.  Highlighting the country’s massive reforestation programme and the planting of millions of trees each year, he said that Madagascar has joined the “G-Zero” coalition of carbon-neutral Countries.  “Our ambition is to restore our forests and develop the green and blue economy,” he said.