On 3-4 September 2018, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was held in Beijing. Having first taken place in 2000, the forum is held every three years, attended by China, all African nations which have diplomatic relations with China, and various African organisations. After the two-day summit, it is usual for the media to report on big deals signed between Chinese and African firms big investment deals, signed under a banner of win-win cooperation as heads of state look on, have always been a feature of the forums.
The 2018 forum was particularly successful: railways in Sudan, a business district in Egypt’s new capital, mining in South Africa, a basket of marine projects in Guinea, finance underwriting in Ghana. And on 5 September, in bustling Beijing, another deal was signed on the fringes of the forum: the Madagascar blue economy deal.
The news reached Madagascar the following day, 6 September. Articles were accompanied by a photo of the signing: officials from both sides, suited and booted, national flags on the table, clutching copies of the agreement as they shook hands for the cameras. For Madagascar, Hugues Ratsiferana, head of the Madagascan Agency for Economic Development and Business Promotion (AMDP); for China, Mao Jinrong, owner of a 99% stake in Taihe Century Investment Developments. And in the back row, Hery Rajaonarimampianina, at the time president of Madagascar.
On 7 September, the Midi Madagasikara newspaper had more details: US$2.7 billion of investment over 10 years, directly creating at least 10,000 jobs, first three-year stage to start late 2018, the first inshore fishing firm will have a fleet of 330 boats. And there was a quote from the president: For our Chinese partners, this framework agreement is part of a global initiative, bringing the new silk road to Madagascar.
Joelison Razakarivony, project official with Madagascan NGO Alliance Voahary Gasy (or Nature Alliance), read the news that day and called a colleague in a panic: US$2.7 billion? Three hundred and thirty fishing boats? This would be the biggest ever investment in Madagascar’s fishing sector.
Razakarivony soon realised that almost all of the civil society bodies working in Madagascar’s fishing sector, and even the government’s own environment ministry, had learned of the deal from the media. It even emerged that the fishing ministry had not been consulted prior to the deal being signed. On 5 October, Augustin Andriamananoro, fisheries minister, confirmed this during a television interview, and spoke out against the deal: If we are not careful, this will lead to over-exploitation of our ocean.