The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has announced the start of construction on the 878m bridge over the Mangoky River in Madagascar.

The SDF has allocated a $20m developmental soft loan to the bridge's construction, mixed together with donations from the Arab Coordination Group and the government of Madagascar.

Madagascar's Prime Minister Christian Ntsay, along with other officials, attended the ground-breaking ceremony of the development.

This project will benefit local farmers and Madagascar's tourist sector by allowing the farmers to move their products to markets faster, reducing traffic congestion and travel time, and improving access to several attractions.

According to the country's Public Works Minister Jacques Ulrich Andriantiana, the Mangoky River Bridge is Madagascar's longest and was developed with funds from the SFD to strengthen the country's commercial infrastructure.

SFD's general manager for Africa Operations Mohammed Alshammari said: “The construction of the Mangoky Bridge closely aligns with SFD’s commitment to supporting sustainable development in developing countries worldwide.

“The bridge will help to improve transportation links between two key regions in Madagascar, generate socioeconomic growth, and boost key sectors such as tourism.

“The project speaks to our shared values of partnership, cooperation, and sustainable development, and is the result of the close developmental relations, and successful longstanding partnership, which has existed between SFD and Madagascar for more than 47 years.”

In Madagascar, the SFD has funded six development projects in the last four decades.