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Africa doing Business with China

Altogether, Africa's economy is known to be the poorest in the world with destabilisation and politics the main causes. This continent is labelled 'debt' disregarding the many countries it entails. Yet there is massive foreign investment from several Western countries with Asia's, China and India being the latter ones who need resources to feed their growing economies. As China's economy is bigger and growing more rapidly that of India, China is now at the forefront in almost any African country investing billions at a time. All parties involved (China, India and Africa) could benefit from this, however history will remind you that Africa always suffer at the end of any deal concerning foreigners. Still, massive investment from China could be very good news for Africa's economy as well needed investment could result in higher employment and an increase in export.

According to the World Bank Report, 27% of all Africa's export goes to Asia. All is not crystal clear as it is understood that although Africa is exporting a lot to Asia. Asia's exports to Africa is growing 18% a year, furthermore China and India still has tariffs on African exports. Is this fair trade? After saying this I still believe Africa can learn from China, liaison and trade between the two can only be good for the continent that desperately needs to control their own resources. Western stakeholders already have a stronghold on Africa?s resources. They often strangle these economies and markets with their unfair agreements and policies. In most cases African governments are not in a position to stop this as multinnational companies are usually stronger with government officials already 'in their pockets' who directly dictate to the people. I think to myself all this is at the people's expense? Creating conflict to achieve their objectives (to get the best returns possible) As China's interest in Africa?s resources is growing, Africa?s economies could benefit from this if they can get a better deal than what they are currently tolerating from western countries/companies.

The fact is, China's growing economy needs all the resources it can get to keep it going. Africa is where these materials are and they are investing billions into the rich continent. Africa?s Infrastructure should be better as railroads will be built to connect rural areas to the towns to transport these materials to China. I believe it will take a while for everyday Africans to benefit from this trade as China is already sending their own workers to these African states to control events. I just hope Africa will learn from its mistakes when it comes to trade as you know the story of how some foreign countries went to Africa to do a certain kind of trade, which resulted in colonisation and destruction of African civilisation for example culture even their own history. Now hundreds of years later Africa is still suffering because of bad judgement. For example it was reported that China was supplying the Arab government in Sudan with guns, which are used to massacre African people to get them off the land to secure future oil for China. When a Chinese government official was asked about this, he replied, 'business is business'.

If trade between Africa and China is successful then the benefits to Africa could be immense as they could learn a lot from the trade, exchange ideas, African workers could gain valuable experience in Asia. Chinese workers could help build infrastructure in Africa such as building railroads etc. After saying this I do think to myself that Africa could benefit more if they SERIOUSLY focus on trading amongst themselves (between different African countries). However Africa has several resources that no other continent can produce and if the African people can benefit from this trade then by all means genuine foreign investment is needed. My advice is, while this is a great opportunity be very careful as the others involved are seeking help too, don't get it twisted Africa has something that is needed by China and vice versa. Africa should make use of this opportunity as China is doing just that.

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