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EMBASSY/CONSULATE ADDRESSES

Diplomatic Representation in US:
Ambassador: Vacant
Embassy: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: (202) 265-5525
Fax: (202) 265-3034

Consulate(s) General are in:
New York
801 2nd Av., Room 404,
New York, NY 10017.
(212) 986-9491

US Diplomatic Representation:
Ambassador:  U.S. Charge d'Affaires is Eric Wong.
Embassy: 14 & 16, rue Rainitovo Antsahavola Antananarivo 101
Mailing Address: Ambassade Americaine, B.P. 620, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Telephone: 261] (20) 22-21257 or 22-20956
FAX: [261] (20) 22-34539

Malagasy Embassies and Consulates around the World

Algeria
22 Rue Abdelkader, Aoms Bologhine
Algiers
tel: (213) 62 31 96

Australia (Consulate)
92 FIH Street
Sydney, NSW 2000
Tel: (61-2) 221-3007

Austria (Consulate)
Potzleindorferstrasse 94-96 A
1184 Vienna
Tel: (43-1) 47 41 92, 47 12 73

Belgium
276 Avenue de Tervueren
1150 Brussels
Tel: (32-2) 770 1726, 770 1774
Fax: (32-2) 772 3731

Canada
200 Catherine Street, suite 510
Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2K9
Tel: (613) 567-0505
Fax: (613) 567-2882

China
San Li Tun Dong Jie N.3
Beijing
Tel: (86-10) 532 2841, 532 1253

Ethiopia
PO Box 60004
Addis Ababa
Tel: (251-1) 61 25 55
Fax: (251-1) 61 01 27

France
4, Avenue Raphael
75016 Paris
Tel: (33-1) 45 04 62 22
Fax: (33-1) 45 03 34 54, 45 04 45 17
Consulate:
234 Boulevard Perrier
13008 Marseille

Germany
Rollandstasse 48
Godesberg Postfach 188
5300 Bonn
Tel: (49-228) 953 590

Italy
Via Riccardo Zandonai 84/A
Rome
Tel: (39-6) 36 30 77 97, 36 30 11 83
Fax: (39-6) 36 29 43 06

Japan
2-3-23 Moto Azabu, Minato-Ku
Tokyo 106
Tel: (81-3) 3446 7252
Fax: (81-3) 3446 7078

Kenya (Consulate)
Hilton Nairobi
PO Box 41723
Nairobi
Tel: (254-2) 25206, 26494

Mauritius
Avenue Queen Mary, Floreal
Port Louis
Tel: (230) 6-50-15/6

Russia
Kousovoy Peme Oul
Moscow
Tel: (7-095) 290 0214
Fax: (7-095) 202 3453

Switzerland
32 Avenue Riant Parc
1209 Geneva
Tel: (41-22) 602 5411, 211 2781
Fax: (41-22) 740 1616
Consulate:
Birkenstrasse 5
6000 Lucerne
Tel: (41-41) 211 2781

Tanzania
Magoret Street 135
PO Box 5254
Dar el Salaam
Tel: (255-51) 412 92

United Kingdom (Consulate)
69-7C Mark Lane
London EC3 R75A
Tel: (44-171) 481-3899

United Nations
801 Second Ave., Suite 404
New York, NY 10017
Tel: (212) 986-9491
Fax: (212) 986-6271

Embassy and Consulate Web Sites for Madagascar
Embassy of Madagascar in Washington, United States of America
U.S Mission Web Site in Madagascar


FOREIGN RELATIONS

During the 1800s and 1900s, Madagascar passed back and forth between British and French spheres of influence and possession. The country became independent from France in 1960. Relations between the United States and Madagascar date to the mid-1800s. The two countries concluded a commercial convention in 1867; established diplomatic relations in 1874; and concluded a treaty of peace, friendship, and commerce in 1881. Traditionally warm relations suffered considerably during the 1970s, when Madagascar expelled the U.S. Ambassador, closed a NASA tracking station, and nationalized two U.S. oil companies. In 1980, relations at the ambassadorial level were restored.

In 2009, Madagascar's democratically elected president stepped down under pressure from the military and purported to transfer his authority to a senior military figure, who in turn purported to confer the presidency on the opposition leader, who is currently heading the self-proclaimed High Transitional Authority (HAT). The United States considers the series of events in Madagascar in early 2009 to be a military coup d'état. In the aftermath of the coup d’etat, Madagascar has experienced negative economic growth and diminished government revenues, undermining the political, social, and economic stability of the country. The United States’ intent is to support international efforts led by the Southern African Development Community and the African Union to ensure that a credible electoral process takes place as soon as possible, organized by an independent entity.

U.S. Assistance to Madagascar

Following the 2009 coup d’etat, the United States suspended direct assistance to or through Madagascar’s governmental authorities as well as all non-humanitarian activities. The U.S. Government continues to provide assistance in health and food security through nongovernmental organizations, community associations, and other private groups. The United States is currently the largest bilateral donor to Madagascar, which is a priority country for the President’s Malaria Initiative, Additionally, approximately 130 Peace Corps volunteers serve in Madagascar.

Bilateral Economic Relations

U.S. exports to Madagascar include machinery, vegetable oil, rice and wheat, aircraft, and vehicles. U.S. imports from Madagascar include apparel, vanilla beans, precious stones/metals, and perfumes/cosmetics. The United States has signed a trade and investment framework agreement with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, of which Madagascar is a member. Under the economic and political governance criteria necessary for eligibility, Madagascar is ineligible for preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

Madagascar's Membership in International Organizations

Madagascar and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization.

Bilateral Representation

There currently is no U.S. Ambassador to Madagascar; the U.S. Charge d'Affaires is Eric Wong. Other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department's Key Officers List.

Madagascar maintains an embassy in the United States at 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-265-5525).

More information about Madagascar is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:

Department of State Madagascar Page
Department of State Key Officers List
CIA World Factbook Madagascar Page
U.S. Embassy: Madagascar
USAID Madagascar Page
History of U.S. Relations With Madagascar
Human Rights Reports
International Religious Freedom Reports
Trafficking in Persons Reports
Narcotics Control Reports
Investment Climate Statements
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Countries Page
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics
Export.gov International Offices Page
Millennium Challenge Corporation
Library of Congress Country Studies
Travel and Business Information




TRAVEL ADVISORIES

To obtain the latest Travel Advisory Information for Madagascar check the U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheet.


TRAVEL TIPS

Driving TBA
Currency (MGF) Malagasy Franc
Electrical 220 Volts
Telephones Country Code 261, City Code, Antananarivu 202+6D, Toamasina 205+6D, Mahajanga 206+6D



Climate: Hot and subtropical climate, colder in the mountains. Rainy season: November to March. Dry season: April to October. The south and west regions are hot and dry. Monsoons bring storms and cyclones to the east and north from December to March. The mountains, including Antananarivo, are warm and thundery from November to April and dry, cool and windy the rest of the year.

Cclothing: Lightweights are worn during the summer on high central plateaux and throughout the year in the north and south. Warmer clothes are advised during evenings and winter in mountainous areas. Rainwear is advisable.

Food & Drink: In Madagascar eating well means eating a lot. Malagasy cooking is based on a large serving of rice with a dressing of sauces, meat, vegetables and seasoning. Dishes include ro (a mixture of herbs and leaves with rice); beef and pork marinated in vinegar, water and oil, then cooked with leaves, onion, pickles and other vegetables and seasoned with pimento; ravitoto (meat and leaves cooked together); ramazava (leaves and pieces of beef and pork browned in oil); vary amid ’anana (rice, leaves or herbs, meat and sometimes shrimps) often eaten with kitoza (long slices of smoked, cured or fried meat). The people of Madagascar enjoy very hot food and often serve dishes with hot peppers. Local restaurants are often referred to as hotely.
The choice of beverages is limited. The national wine is acceptable. Malagasy drinks include litchel (an aperitif made from litchis), betsa (fermented alcohol) and toaka gasy (distilled from cane sugar and rice) and ‘Three Horses’ lager. Non-alcoholic drinks include ranon ’apango or rano vda (made from burnt rice) and local mineral waters.

Shopping: Handicrafts include lamba (traditional squares of cloth in various designs and woven materials); zafimaniny marquetry, which is applied to furniture, chessboards and boxes; silverwork such as mahafaly crosses and vangavanga bracelets; jewellery made from shells and precious stones; items woven from reeds, raffia and straw; antemore paper decorated with dried flowers; and embroidery. All products incorporating Malagasy flora or fauna (including dried flowers) require export permits (see Duty Free section). Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1400-1800.

Currency: Malagasy Franc (Mgfr) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of Mgfr25,000, 10,000, 5000, 2500 and 1000. Coins are in denominations of Mgfr250, 100, 50, 25, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1.

Credit & debit cards: Visa, American Express, MasterCard and Diners Club are accepted at the capital’s Colbert and Hilton hotels. These and other cards have limited use elsewhere in the country. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travellers cheques: These can be exchanged in banks and major hotels. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Euros.

Time: GMT + 3.

Electricity: Mostly 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are generally two-pin.


CUSTOMS/DUTIES

Tobacco.............500 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 500g of tobacco

Liquor................1 bottle

Perfume.............Reasonable for personal use

Cameras............Should be declared on arrival

Film...................Reasonable for personal use

Gifts..................Reasonable amount

Currency............Must be declared on arrival



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