Extraction Of Sapphires, Madagascar

• Infrastructure
The northern railway (TCE) is currently concessioned to Madarail. The southern line, Fianarantsoa-Côte-Est railway (FCE), is a parastatal line. The majority of "paved" roads outside the capital can no longer be considered so due to heavy use, erosion and lack of maintenance. Due to excessive rainfall in the regions land slides have depleted roads. Waterways of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Lakandranon' Ampangalana (Canal des Pangalanes) navigated by pirogue. Coastal inter-city transport routes, especially on the West coast. Ports and harbors are in Antsiranana, Antsohimbondrona, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara, Tôlanaro. The country's principal cargo port is Toamasina Autonomous Port.
• International trade
Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the economy. Major exports are coffee, vanilla (Madagascar is the world's largest producer and exporter of vanilla), sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts and livestock products. Vanilla has historically been of particular importance, and when in 1985 Coca-cola switched to New Coke which involved less vanilla, Madagascar's economy took a marked downturn but returned to previous levels after the return of Coke Classic.