Mikama - Mar 28, 2018

Dans Menafn
Some 90% of Malagasy vocabulary is from the language of the Ma'anyan, an indigenous group of roughly 70,000 people who live in remote inland areas of southeastern Borneo. Less than 10% of the vocabulary of the Malagasy language is from African languages (mainly Sabaki, a branch of Bantu).
Archaeologists have also found cultural evidence — including ironworking techniques, outrigger boats, musical instruments such as the xylophone, and the cultivation of rice, bananas, yams and taro (a 'tropical food kit') — that supports a strong Southeast Asian connection. Genetic studies, too, have generally confirmed the dual ancestry of the Malagasy and Comorian populations. Our research. Using cutting-edge statistical approaches, we determined that the Banjar and the East African people (Swahilis community) interbred first in the Comoros archipelago around the eighth century and later in Madagascar around the 11th century. Interestingly, the dynamic of admixture strongly differs in the two territories. Banjar ancestry ranges from 37% to 64% in Madagascar but is only 20% in the Comoros. This is probably because of major Swahili settlement in the Comoros prior to Austronesian arrival. We determined and dated the gene flow (migration) over the last 2,000 years between 190 populations around the Indian Ocean. Our research shows that human migration is correlated to the volume of trade (estimated from historical records).

Dans Microcapital
The International Development Association, a member of the World Bank, recently approved a wide-ranging program to boost financial inclusion in Madagascar, particularly among women. The program includes: (1) establishing e-money accounts for payments to and from the government; (2) credit guarantees to financial institutions serving micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs); (3) helping financial institutions adopt new financial technology services; (4) offering business development services to MSMEs; and (5) supporting microfinance institutions in establishing new branches in rural areas.
http://ida.worldbank.org/

Dans Sourcing Journal
One thing that sets the nation apart for sourcing is its history in textile manufacturing. Madagascar had already been a go-to source for making apparel in Africa before a coup in 2009 saw the country lose its trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). But its trade privileges under the preference program were reinstated in 2014 and since then, Madagascar has been on a mission to secure its appeal as a viable sourcing locale. Today, the country is engaged in strong woven cotton production, it has become a one-stop shop for wovens, and many manufacturers there employ stateof-the-art looms, bringing differentiation to the fabric on offer. Socota is one such manufacturer. The vertically integrated design, fabric and garment group has been in business since 1957, and today counts Zara among its clients—which undoubtedly means it’s no stranger to speed and efficiency. With monthly wages that can be as low as $50, Madagascar can be counted on for cost savings, but, as one consultant notes, without the sacrifice of quality and ethics. And apart from shipping duty free to the U.S. under AGOA, goods from Madagascar can make their way to the E.U. without facing duties, too. Madagascar Garments specializes in knitwear with a capacity of 600,000 garments per month. And despite its lack of proximity to the U.S., the country can still be highly viable for the right programs. “As a factory, we’re not a high fashion, quick-response kind of business,” Havemann said. “Our competitive advantage in the market is synthetics, where there’s a 32 percent duty rate.”