The expansion of Toamasina port is a driver of economic development for the country. A major milestone will be reached in the Toamasina port expansion project. The future Multimodal Logistics and Port Platform (PMLP) at Tsarakofafa, developed by the Autonomous Port Management Company of Toamasina (SPAT), will be established at Port Sec III. This new infrastructure will finally enable temporary storage of containers before their redistribution to secondary ports in southern Africa and the Indian Ocean.

Positive Effects
With the development of Port Sec III, Madagascar will be able to accommodate more direct maritime lines. This will have several positive effects, including reducing logistics costs and strengthening the Grand Port's position in regional trade. Eventually, Toamasina could also become a redistribution hub for goods to neighboring countries and islands. The Tsarakofafa site was chosen due to its strategic location. Located approximately 8 km from Toamasina port, Tsarakofafa also benefits from proximity to the national highway and railway. An ideal location to facilitate the transport of goods between the port and the logistics platform.

New Economic Activities
The investment required for this platform is estimated at least 200 million dollars. Priority infrastructure, including access road and a parking lot for 500 trucks, will be launched soon. Port Sec III will create new economic activities around logistics, transport and maritime commerce. Revenue generated by the platform is estimated at approximately 65 billion ariary annually during the first three to five years. It could reach nearly 100 billion ariary after five years. The project will also increase state revenue through port duties and services related to maritime activities. For the municipality of Toamasina, the development of port activities should also generate more resources through fees, which could contribute to city improvement projects.