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Madagascar

Republic of Madagascar

French civil law with customary lawSemi-presidential republicReviewed· 2026-08-03
Capital
Antananarivo
Population
30,300,000
Languages
Malagasy, French
Currency
MGA

Madagascar · Business

Business in Madagascar

What the atlas records on business in Madagascar, checked against the primary sources cited below.

Business

Loi sur les sociétés commerciales outside OHADA, with EDBM one-stop registration

Reviewed· 2026-08-03

Company law rests on Loi 2003-036 sur les sociétés commerciales, French in structure but national rather than OHADA — Madagascar has never acceded to the Treaty. The Economic Development Board of Madagascar operates as a one-stop shop, and the Loi sur les Investissements provides guarantees and free-zone regimes.

Key rules

  • Jurisdiction — The Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés registers; the Tribunal de Commerce hears commercial disputes.
  • Deadline — Company registration through the EDBM guichet unique
  • Deadline — Annual accounts filed with the registre du commerce

Governing law

  • Loi 2003-036 sur les sociétés commerciales
  • Loi 2007-036 sur les Investissements
  • Loi 2007-037 sur les zones et entreprises franches

In practice

The absence of OHADA membership is the point that most often catches advisers out: Malagasy company, security and insolvency law is national legislation interpreted by Malagasy courts, with no CCJA appeal and no directly applicable Uniform Acts, despite the superficially familiar French vocabulary.

Sources

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