Monday, 25 May 2026
Madagascar taps Egyptian know-how for Capital City project
Antananarivo, Madagascar – A high-level Egyptian delegation, led by Eng. Khaled Abbas, Chairman of Egypt’s Administrative Capital for Urban Development Company (ACUD), has concluded an official visit to the Republic of Madagascar.
The visit was undertaken at the invitation of Madagascar’s Secretary of State for New Towns and Housing, in support of Madagascar’s ambitious project to build a new administrative capital, "Tana-Masondro".
The Egyptian delegation’s visit, which took place from June 22 to 25, included a comprehensive field tour of the new capital site. Envisioned as Madagascar’s largest urban development initiative, the project covers 2,340 acres and is located 28 kilometers from the current capital, Antananarivo. The Egyptian team reviewed the current master plans and requested technical drawings for further study and engineering assessment.
Eng. Khaled Abbas emphasized that the visit reflects Egypt’s leadership’s commitment to sharing its expertise in constructing new cities—most notably its own successful experience building the New Administrative Capital.
He affirmed Egypt’s readiness to provide technical and consultancy support to African partners and welcomed the participation of specialized Egyptian companies in the design, construction, and provision of skilled professionals for Madagascar’s new capital.
Official meetings during the visit featured strong praise for Egypt’s achievements in urban transformation. Both sides agreed to form a joint steering committee of experts to develop a practical roadmap for the project's implementation and to activate the provisions of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Cairo in November 2024.
On the sidelines of the visit, Eng. Abbas took part in the Egypt-Madagascar Business Forum, accompanied by a delegation from the Egyptian Ministry of Transport and several Egyptian companies. The forum explored investment and cooperation opportunities in urban development, transportation, energy, and water, with the participation of Malagasy ministers and private sector representatives.
It is noteworthy that ACUD and Madagascar’s Secretariat of State for New Towns and Housing had previously signed an MoU during the Urban Forum held in Cairo in November 2024. The agreement aims to exchange expertise, augment cooperation, and guide the planning and execution of the "Tana-Masondro" project, benefiting from Egypt’s experience in city planning, design, financing, and management.