Africa in Partnership with China. Actions and Outcomes?

Published Saturday, "China Safari" is an interesting coverage of the recent and past economic partnership between China and Africa. Most Americans and Europeans neglect this relationship, or are unconscious of it. In reality, the Chinese have been investing heavily in Africa since 1995 and have doubled their trade efforts each year since. In 2010 the predicted total is to reach 100 billion dollars.

The African nation essentially prefers the Asian foreigners to other Western or Indian business men and women, for the simple rationale that the Chinese tend to follow through with more plans, and also, Africa wants to upset the western monopolies currently in place.

With Africa in favor of China, the Middle Kingdom has a massive new frontier. This kind of growing amicable relationship is what will shift China’s economy in the express lane to number one economy and number one world power. A Chinese housing developer working in Africa quotes “I’m going to be honest with you, China is using Africa to get where the United States is now, and surpass it.”

From the U.S.’s stand point, they need to discover how to get a larger piece of the action. Granted they already do have a part of the pack, but perhaps they can take a step back and examine how and why the Chinese have been more successful at capitalizing on the opportunity. Much like the car industry did with Japan, observe all of their operations, figure out why they’re more effective, and carbon copy the process.

From China’s position, they already have good relationships with the government and they need to use these relations to bring in new market segments once Africa has developed further. What details can we envisage in the next 10 years regarding the China & Africa partnership?

- John Cutrone III