Monday, November 13, 2006

China-Africa Summit 2006: the view from The World Bank

The Battle for Africa’s Hearts and Minds… and Black Gold – Round 2

One thing that the recent
China-Africa Summit in Beijing has produced is a goldmine of views and commentary and solid information from diverse people around the world. My personal feelings about the summit have already been clearly stated (see my previous post on the subject) but I would also like to point to important articles, opinions, and studies from experts on the subject. I have found so many good articles, blog posts, and other resources online that I will publish excerpts from some of them in a series over the next several weeks.

The World Bank Economists

The World Bank Group has released a statement at the conclusion of the summit and not surprisingly “The Bank” is positive in its outlook for China-Africa trade and development. I even heard
renowned economist Dr. Jeffrey Sachs the other day say that he thinks China’s new deals and loans for African countries was a great opportunity. I’m certain that both the World Bank and Dr. Sachs have reservations and concerns re: China’s support of certain despotic regimes on the African continent, but they did not voice them (loudly) while talking to journalists about this recent summit.

Correction: Dr. Sachs has spoken out on Darfur at Columbia University together with the award-winning correspondent Jonathon Ledgard (The Economist). See the November 1st 2006 video “Ending the Darfur Crisis and Preventing the Next One” at the
Earth Institute website.

Below are excerpts from the World Bank Group November 9th newsletter with statements from the
Chief Economist - Africa John Page and Benno Ndulu, author of a new World Bank report “Challenges of African Growth”.

Africa's Focus On Social Spending Has Hit Infrastructure: World Bank

“Africa is enjoying an economic resurgence but a focus on social spending means poverty-stricken nations lack sufficient roads and communications to attract foreign firms, the World Bank said Thursday.

‘Africa is on the move and appears to be perched on the cusp of breaking out of the long economic stagnation of the 1970s and 1980s,’ the Washington-based institution said in a report released [in Tokyo]. The last 10 years have seen renewed growth and better governance across a number of nations but increased spending on social sectors such as health during the 1990s has taken its toll on infrastructure, it added. The lack of adequate transportation and telecommunications links is a major deterrent to foreign companies thinking about setting up operations in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Bank warned.

‘The sheer magnitude of the problem and the long-term neglect of infrastructure in many African countries demands a big-push solution,’ says the new report titled, 'Challenges of African Growth'. … The report's author, Benno Ndulu, warned that African nations could not rely on the private sector alone to provide the $36 billion a year needed for infrastructure so as to meet the anti-poverty UN Millennium Development Goals. …” [Agence France Presse/Factiva]

In related news, “The World Bank on Thursday welcomed China's increased involvement with Africa but urged the rising Asian power to learn lessons from past donors when helping the impoverished continent. ‘My summary take on the Chinese engagement in Africa is that it is broadly positive,’ said John Page, the World Bank's Chief Economist for Africa. ‘We witnessed the emergence of one of the most significantly successful developing countries as a development partner for Africa, and therefore perhaps a source of ideas and innovation,’ he told reporters in Tokyo after attending China's weekend summit with delegates from 48 African nations. …

The World Bank urged Beijing to work closely with other donors for the benefit of the African people. ‘If I could express one aspiration for the Chinese, it would be to learn from the experience of the World Bank and the traditional governments in Africa,’ said Page. ‘It has taken us a very long time, in Europe and North America, to reach the point of attempting to harmonize our own development efforts. I would hope it takes the Chinese less time,’ he said. …” [Agence France Presse/Factiva]

Another important report that was recently published by the World Bank on Asian trade with Africa is “
Africa’s Silk Road: China and India’s New Economic Frontier” authored by World Bank Economic Advisor Harry G. Broadman. The book Africa’s Silk Road is available for free download in PDF-format at the World Bank website. In the introduction for the book the World Banks states:

The book shows that exports from Africa to Asia tripled in the last five years, making Asia Africa's third largest trading partner (27 percent) after the European Union (32 percent) and the United States (29 percent).

Indian and Chinese foreign direct investment in Africa also grew, with China's amounting to $US1.18 billion by mid-2006.

China and India each have rapidly modernizing industries and burgeoning middle classes with rising incomes and purchasing power. These societies are demanding not only natural resource-extractive commodities, agricultural goods such as cotton, and other traditional African exports, but also diversified, nontraditional exports such as processed commodities, light manufactured products, household consumer goods, food, and tourism.

Because of its labor-intensive capacity, Africa has the potential to export these nontraditional goods and services competitively to the average Chinese and Indian consumer and firm.

"To be sure, if you take a snapshot of today, the overwhelming bulk of Africa's exports to Asia is natural resources," says Broadman. "But what's new is there is far more than oil that is being invested in—and this is an important opportunity for Africa's growth and reduction of poverty because Africa's trade for many years has been concentrated in primary commodities and natural resources."

Roadblocks along the way: asymmetries and the need for policy reforms

While growing Asian trade and investment is cause for optimism, the book cautions that there are major asymmetries in the economic relations between the two regions. While Asia accounts for one-quarter of Africa’s global exports, this trade represents only about 1.6 percent of the exports shipped to Asia from all sources worldwide. By the same token, FDI in Asia by African firms is extremely small, both in absolute and relative terms.

And, the rise of internationally competitive Chinese and Indian businesses cuts into both domestic sales and exports of African producers of, for example, textiles and apparels.

“It is imperative that both sides of this promising South-South economic relationship address asymmetries and obstacles to its continued expansion through reforms,” says Broadman.
The study details a series of reforms that should be undertaken by all the countries:

“At-the-border” reforms, such as elimination of China and India’s escalating tariffs on Africa’s leading exports; and elimination of Africa’s tariffs on certain inputs that make its own exports uncompetitive.

“Behind-the-border” reforms in Africa, to unleash competitive market forces, strengthen its basic market institutions, and improve governance
.


“Between-the-border” improvements in trade facilitation infrastructure and institutions to decrease transactions costs, such as customs administration, transport and communications.

Reforms that leverage linkages between investment and trade to allow African businesses’ participation in modern global production-sharing networks generated by Chinese and Indian investments in Africa.

With this newest phase in the evolution of world trade and investment flows taking root—the increasing emergence of South-South international commerce—African businesses cannot afford to be left behind. Those reforms are critically important to allow Africa to be able to genuinely participate—and most importantly, benefit from—the new patters of international commerce.

In the September 16, 2006 press release for Africa’s Silk Road the World Bank also points out the following:

Trade with Asia is producing goods affordable to Africans, Indians, and Chinese, that are either being sold in Africa or exported to China, India or a third country.

At the same time, more and more Chinese and Indian firms are seeking to manufacture and export sophisticated components, such as those produced by the South African auto parts industry, to the global market.

"This is allowing Africa for the first time to enter into this network of more sophisticated third-country global exports," Broadman says.

But the study indicates that the conventional remedy of reduced trade barriers will not be enough. More important are "behind-the-border" reforms to encourage competition, strengthen market institutions and improve governance in African nations, and "between-the-border" reforms in both regions, to reduce international transactions costs.

"Part of what the Africans need to do to attract China is reduce the cost of doing business," says John Page, Chief Economist of the Bank's Africa region.

Some countries are already moving in that direction, according to the recently released World Bank Group's 2007 Doing Business survey, which found that the business climate in several African countries improved in 2005 and that Sub-Saharan Africa was the third best reforming region, after Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (high income) countries.

About a third of Africa's population lives in countries where population growth outstrips economic growth and where the economy is actually regressing, Page says.

But he says prospects are good in about 14 countries that are home to 65 percent of Africans. About 30 percent live in natural resource exporting countries, and another 35 percent live in countries that have been growing at an average rate of 5 percent a year for the last 10 years.

Many countries could greatly benefit from as yet untapped South-South trade opportunities, such as tourism aimed at China, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the former Soviet Union, says Broadman.

"The tourism industry in Africa is underdeveloped. It's just a huge market waiting to happen," he says.

But what is needed is something Africa lacks: infrastructure—roads, airports, transit systems, and telecommunications, he adds.

It's a deficiency keenly felt by Africa's trading partners. China, for one, is looking for opportunities to contribute to the Bank's work in Africa, including infrastructure projects, says Page.
And the Bank may partner with China and India, particularly on agricultural projects, to tap into their specialized knowledge, Page says.

Related articles and resources:

Africa Emerges as China and India’s New Economic Frontier – 09/16/06

Infrastructure, Investment, Innovation and Institutional Capacity: The Four Big “I’s” Needed To Achieve Growth In Africa – 11/09/06

World Bank PSD Blog (Private Sector Development) – Africa, Asia archives
Beijing gussies up for South-South trade – 11/03/06

The World Bank – Africa Region

Technorati tags:

12 comments:

Abdurahman Warsame said...

Aljazeera English has launched with a new website. They already have a great report on Darfur.

Digg it, link to it and spread the word.

Abdurahman Warsame said...

First few minutes of the Aljazeera's broardcast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijsNmMZt9fc

BRE said...

Thanks Abdurahman. I've already left a comment over at your place re: Al-Jazeera's new English-languauge launch. Slick, slick, slick and an impressive lineup of international correspondents and news stories.

Do visit my friend Abdu's blog "No Longer at Ease" and checkout the Al-Jazeera anniversary story for yourself.

http://civilexpression.blogspot.com/

TIME Europe Magazine just published a special report on Al-Jazeera's 10th anniversary. See "Tearing Down the Walls" written by Scott Macleod in Doha in the Nov 6th issue of TIME.

One of my favorite moments in the video clip was the quote from U.S. Defense Secretary Donald "Papa" Rumsfeld when he stated during a Pentagon press conference, "All I have to say is what Al-Jazeera is doing is vicious, inaccurate, and inexcusable..." Iraq's former Minister of Information "Comical Ali" was no friend of Al-Jazeera as well. Strange bedfellows.

Did Al-Jazeera do any in-depth reporting on the China-Africa Summit in Beijing? Do you still work for Al-Jazeera Abdu?

Anonymous said...

Interesting and informative report -

BRE said...

Which one? Abdu's report on Al Jazeera or my post about the World Bank's view on the China-Africa Summit and Africa's Silk Road? I'm not finished with China just yet, not by a long shot.

Thanks for stopping by Sokari, I know that you have been very busy lately. Are you back from South Africa, back in sunny Spain again?

Anonymous said...

Hi, sorry I accidentally posted a comment in one of your past blog entries instead of your latest one. So I will just copy and paste..

Dear Bill,

Hi, my name is Emilie and I go to highschool in Australia. For my Year 12 Legal Studies assessment (very important) we have to choose a subject which shows misuse of human rights. I think we can both agree that there are a lot of human rights breaches going on in Darfur and I was wondering if you could assist me with absolutely anything relating to Darfur to help with the assignment. We are required to give a speech to the class and it would be a great opportunity to inform my classmates about issues such as Darfur which they would most likely turn a blind eye to. I believe that even though it is only one class in Australia, issues can be rectified by one person at a time helping each other to combat the issue. Even though I noticed you have links on your website, it would be great to get something else, maybe your opinion or any other important people I should possibly contact. I feel very deeply about this and any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

BRE said...

Dear Emilie,

There are so many different organizations involved with trying to stop the genocide in Darfur that it is hard to know where to begin. I'm not an expert on the subject, just one of the 100,000's (or millions?) of people who advocate bringing a stop to the killing and rapes in Sudan and demanding that the perpetrators be brought to justice.

Re: your Legal Studies class assignment I would recommend that you research articles and white papers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law website "The Jurist". This is an excellent resource where legal professionals, professors, and law students share their information and views on a variety of subjects, including the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. Here is the URL to The Jurist website search results for: Darfur

http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/jurist_search.php?q=Darfur

I would also suggest that you get in touch with fellow students abroad who are well organized and active in Darfur campaigns. Two well known groups that come to mind is the organization Time to Protect and the the Student Anti-Genocide Coalition (STAND). There is also the Genocide Intervention Network and the Coalition for Darfur and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum - Committee on Consicience and loads more around the world. I have provided URL's to their respective websites below:

STAND- Student anti-genocide coalition
http://standnow.org/

Time to Protect
http://www.timetoprotect.org/

Genocide Intervention Network
http://www.genocideintervention.net/index.php

USHMM - Committe on Consicience
http://www.ushmm.org/conscience/

Coaliton for Darfur
http://coalitionfordarfur.blogspot.com/

Aegis Trust (U.K.)
http://www.aegistrust.org/

Hope that this information helps you get started not only for your class assignment but also as a global foot-soldier against genocide and mass rape. No prior military experience required.

BRE said...

Meanwhile, getting back to the original topic of this post:

Princeton University graduate Jennifer Brea of Africabeat has some updates on the China-Africa Summit. Jennifer writes and posts from behind the Great Firewall of China as she has let readers know in her most recent piece (Nov. 17th). This of course adds substantial credibility to her writing on the subject as she lives and works in Beijing.

See her World Bank update post "Paul Wolfowitz on China in Africa" at:
http://jenbrea.typepad.com/africabeat/

Anonymous said...

Check out this link:

http://dymaxionworld.blogspot.com/2006/11/chinas-african-adventure.html

BRE said...

Dear Akwe and Yang, thank you for your visit.

Akwe, I can be reached at blackrivereagle [at] yahoo.com It would be interesting to learn what you have to share about China in Africa issues and especially China's involvement with the DRC over the past five decades.

Good luck on your long march to democracy in the DR Congo and congratulations for pulling off the extemely complex parliamentary and presidential elections. Let's hope that peace and a marked improvement in the lives of all of the people of the DR Congo gets a fresh start and is sustainable for years to come. I know that is a tall order for anyone in charge of governing such a vast and troubled country as the DRC, but I believe that it is possible under good democratic leadership and a dynamic, active, and free civil society.

Yang, thanks for the Heads Up on that post about Chinese investments in Africa at the Dymaxionworld blog. It is well written and has some sobering thoughts and suggestions that all of us in "the West" need to consider more carefully.

The Black Mamba said...

http://lovelymoney.blogspot.com/2007/02/china-is-new-sheriff-in-africa_05.html

Anonymous said...

Human rights questions

China is increasing its economic and political ties with Africa because its booming economy has developed a tremendous appetite for raw materials, such as Nigerian and Sudanese oil.

Table of Afro-Chinese trade

Yet critics of its growing presence in Africa are unhappy that, unlike loans from the US and global institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, China's cash offers do not come with democracy or human rights ties.

In particular, they point to China's support for the Sudanese government, strongly criticised internationally because of the violence in Sudan's troubled Darfur region.

"Now some countries can get aid and investment without improving on [human rights and democracy] issues," said Chen-Shen Yen, a researcher at Taiwan's Institute of International Relations.

"China needs energy from Africa. It needs to import a lot of oil nowadays since its economy is growing so fast, and China can get it from African countries through the summit."