From Vision to Reality: How CEO Thomas Ottosen Built Madagascar Invest into the Gateway for Foreign Investment in Madagascar

Madagascar is not usually the first place that comes to mind for global investors. Yet Thomas Ottosen Jr., CEO and founder of Madagascar Invest, saw opportunity where others saw risk. When the Danish-born entrepreneur moved to Madagascar in 2016, he found an untapped opportunity for investors – a “quiet potential… waiting for the right partners to come in and unlock it,” as he described. In a country long viewed as an aid-dependent frontier market, Ottosen envisioned a different path: “We believe in trade, not aid,” he often says. His vision was to rewrite Madagascar’s narrative from reliance on charity to one of sustainable business growth. Today, Madagascar Invest (MI) has made that vision a reality, emerging as a one-stop gateway that is making foreign investment in Madagascar accessible, secure, and profitable for clients around the world.

From Aid Worker to Investment Champion

Thomas Ottosen’s journey to becoming a champion of Malagasy investment began on a very different path. Originally from Denmark, he arrived in Madagascar as a development worker engaged in sustainable charity projects. On the ground, however, he grew frustrated with the bureaucracy and limited impact of traditional aid. He realized “a new approach was needed” to truly spur development. In 2018, Ottosen pivoted from aid to enterprise by founding Madagascar Invest with a bold mission: bring in foreign business and know-how to fuel Madagascar’s growth. “My passion is to help international clients settle and do business on this beautiful island I call home,” Ottosen says, and he has embedded himself deeply in the community to do just that. Fluent in the local language (along with English and French), he blends Nordic pragmatism with a genuine affection for his adopted country – a combination that shapes MI’s ethos. The company’s vision, as Ottosen puts it, is to make investing in Madagascar “safe and seamless” for outsiders while fueling local economic growth. It’s as much a development mission as a business: by lowering barriers and building trust, Ottosen aims to prove that foreign capital can succeed where decades of aid fell short.

Building a One-Stop Gateway for Investors

To turn this vision into reality, Ottosen structured Madagascar Invest as a comprehensive service platform – essentially a one-stop gateway for anyone looking to establish a foothold in Madagascar. The firm takes newcomers by the hand and handles the heavy lifting of market entry, so investors can focus on opportunities rather than red tape. “Madagascar Invest takes care of everything for you,” its materials state confidently. That claim is far from hyperbole. MI’s model covers every step an investor might need, offering end-to-end support:

• Company Formation: The team facilitates the entire business setup process in Madagascar – from legal company registration and tax ID paperwork to opening local bank accounts. Every detail is handled within a swift 10–15 business days, even providing a local nominee director and business address if required. This means a foreign entrepreneur can have a fully compliant company up and running with minimal hassle, an invaluable service in a bureaucracy-heavy environment.

• Real Estate Acquisition: Investing in property is notoriously challenging for outsiders in Madagascar’s underdeveloped real estate sector, which Ottosen calls “difficult to navigate and perilous for the inexperienced buyer”. Madagascar Invest changes that. The firm performs full due diligence on properties, verifies land titles, and navigates the legal maze so that purchases are “smooth, secure, and transparent.” It even structures deals so foreigners can safely lease land on 99-year terms (the effective equivalent of ownership). MI maintains an online portal of curated real estate opportunities in Madagascar, from beachfront lots to city buildings, all vetted for a “true and legal title” before they ever reach a client’s eyes. The entire property transaction is handled at no direct cost to the buyer – MI takes its fee on the seller’s side – reinforcing that its advice is unbiased and in the investor’s best interest. The firm can also assist in setting up local holding companies for property purchases and securing residency permits after a real estate investment, making it truly turnkey.

• Local Partnerships & Guidance: Beyond transactions, Madagascar Invest acts as an on-the-ground advisor. Ottosen’s team leverages local expertise and networks to identify high-potential sectors (agribusiness, renewable energy, tourism, mining, and more) and connect clients to reliable local partners. “We see ourselves as enablers… We help navigate regulations, build partnerships with local players, and de-risk the process,” Ottosen explained in an interview. Rather than simply drop investors into Madagascar and walk away, MI is there for the long haul as a guide and problem-solver. From securing permits to finding trustworthy suppliers, they provide the cultural and regulatory know-how that foreign investors typically lack.

This soup-to-nuts service model has gained significant traction. In just a few years, Madagascar Invest has helped register 400+ new companies in the country and facilitated 200+ property deals, also securing over 300 residency permits for foreign investors along the way. In total, Ottosen’s team has now served upwards of 1,000 clients from around the world – a remarkable achievement for a young firm. These numbers illustrate how effectively MI has bridged the gap between international capital and Madagascar’s opportunities. Each successful incorporation or land purchase isn’t just a business win for the client and MI; it’s a building block in Madagascar’s broader growth story. Madagascar Invest has truly positioned itself as the trusted gateway that Ottosen envisioned, proving that with the right support, investing in this frontier market can be both feasible and rewarding.

Turning Challenges into Trust and Opportunity

Operating in a frontier market comes with real challenges – opaque regulations, complex laws, infrastructure gaps, and the ever-present fear of corruption or instability. Ottosen understood from the outset that MI’s success would depend on converting these challenges into trust and opportunity. A cornerstone of Madagascar Invest’s approach is radical transparency. The company follows a strict “no surprises” policy: all fees, procedures, and timelines are clearly disclosed upfront. For instance, when helping clients buy property, “we only list properties that have a true and legal title,” Ottosen assures. MI’s legal team ensures every deal is properly documented and registered, so clients avoid common pitfalls like hidden ownership issues or unofficial payments. By absorbing the friction of bureaucracy on behalf of investors, Ottosen’s team lets clients focus on the big picture rather than paperwork. “Madagascar Invest exists to absorb some of that friction… whether it’s understanding local regulations, securing the right land, or setting up cross-cultural teams,” Ottosen explains, emphasizing that with the right guidance “the rewards far outweigh the risks”.

Another pillar of building trust is deep local insight. Madagascar Invest’s staff includes experienced Malagasy professionals alongside expats like Ottosen who have spent years navigating the local system. Headquartered in Antananarivo with agents across major regions, the firm has an ear to the ground nationwide. In Madagascar, personal networks and on-site presence can matter as much as formal rules. Ottosen’s team leverages these relationships to solve problems quickly – whether it’s expediting a permit in a remote province or finding a reliable local contractor for a client venture. This local grounding not only prevents costly missteps but also demonstrates MI’s commitment to investing in Madagascar the right way, with respect for local processes and communities.

Crucially, Ottosen preaches patience and partnership as the ethos for investors entering Madagascar. “It’s not about dropping capital and walking away. It’s about building sustainable, long-term value – for the investor and for Madagascar,” he says. This philosophy is reflected in the kind of projects MI facilitates. For example, Ottosen’s team recently helped an Indian agribusiness set up an organic spice processing facility outside Antananarivo – an investment that not only turned a healthy profit exporting spices to Europe, but also created local jobs and pioneered a new export industry for Madagascar. Ottosen points to such win-win outcomes as proof that foreign investment, done thoughtfully, can be a positive-sum game for all involved. Each success makes local stakeholders – from officials to community members – more welcoming of global investors, further easing the path for those who follow.

Outlook: Pioneering Madagascar’s Investment Frontier

As Madagascar gradually opens up and reforms its business climate, Thomas Ottosen finds himself at the forefront of an exciting new chapter. The government has begun introducing incentives like easier business registration in Madagascar and tax breaks to attract global investors. And while challenges remain, early investors are taking note of the island’s “huge upside potential” and unique advantages. Ottosen is optimistic about the momentum: he sees a growing cohort of pioneers who, armed with proper insight, are eager to be part of Madagascar’s rise. These investors understand that entering an unfamiliar market requires trustworthy local partners – precisely what Madagascar Invest provides. “Our goal is to make it accessible, secure, and profitable to invest in Madagascar,” Ottosen says, underscoring the company’s dual commitment to client success and national progress.

If the early success of Madagascar Invest is any indication, the question “Why Madagascar?” is steadily transforming from a skeptic’s doubt into an enthusiast’s opportunity. By delivering results and building confidence in a once-overlooked market, Thomas Ottosen Jr. and his team are turning vision into reality – and in doing so, they are creating one of the truly inspiring success stories in African investment entrepreneurship. With a clear mission and unwavering dedication, they have built Madagascar’s gateway for foreign investment, opening the door for others to follow and for the country to chart a new economic future.