Feedback Form
Home Features Mastermind Forums About Advertise Blog Network Contact Be An Author

Leveraging on China’s Thirst to Develop Africa

Leveraging on China’s Thirst to Develop Africa

By Norah Owaraga,
I recently heard a great daughter of Africa tell a story of two sisters who chose two different paths. One of them chose to take control of her destiny whilst another chose to allow others to take control of her destiny. The one that chose to take control of her destiny insisted on making her own choices, decisions and setting her own agenda. The other waited for others to give her choices, decisions and an agenda to follow. The two sisters are Asia and Africa.

More countries in both east and south Asia have progressed and are attaining the status of the so-called ‘developed’ countries that was previously the preserve of European and North American countries. China is one of those Asian countries that is successfully industrialising and successfully reducing the percentage of its citizens living below the poverty line. China is now looking towards Africa for raw materials, particularly oil, in order to sustain and further its development.

What factors have led to China’s success? China is most definitely in charge of its destiny. It is in full control when determining the terms of trade with others. China continues not only to invest in its infrastructure, but also investing in developing its human resources.

Fully aware that Europe and North America have a stronghold over the oil resources from the Arab world; it is in China’s interest, whilst using its historical connections with Africa, to focus its energies in establishing a strategic stronghold over the oil resources from black Africa. Indeed, China has already entered Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda, Angola and Somalia, amongst others.

Albeit its wealth in raw materials and all the ‘advice’ from foreign ‘experts’ (mostly European and North American) African countries, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa, have either remained poor or gotten poorer over the years. It is reported that Nigerians were poorer in 2000 than they had been at the start of the oil boom in the early 1970s. Why? Is Africa in charge of its destiny?

In the past 50 years, Africa has oscillated from one development model to another as dictated by foreign ‘experts’. The models ranged from structural adjustment programmes to a multitude of poverty eradication strategies that are arguably promoting poverty. Corruption is rife at all levels of government. African leaders and the elite collude with foreigners to exploit Africa’s wealth for their own benefit. The list of African leaders that have amassed personal wealth from government coffers with impunity and in a heavy handed manner of brutality against the citizens of their countries is endless: Mobutu, Abacha, Bokasa, and many others.

Is China’s engagement with Africa any different from Europe’s or North America’s? Not really. China is offering an alternative bargain for Africa to choose from. However, it has the same level of priority as its competitors: Europe and North America (but significantly very low), when it comes to the development of Africa.

Some people argue that China’s trading offer to Africa may be better than Europe and North America’s. Better for whom? At the end of the day, for the development of Africa to occur, it is not the offer that really counts. What matters is what African leaders and the elite do with what Africa receives in exchange for its oil. I am sure we are all familiar with what happened in Nigeria, the biggest oil producing country in Africa, involving the Dutch oil company (Shell), the people of Nigeria as represented by the people of Ogoniland and the activist Ken Saro-Wiwa. The standard of living of the people of Nigeria is the same as those African countries that are not ‘blessed’ with oil. It falls in the category of countries with a Gross National Product (GNP) per capita of below USD 545. In contrast, I am also sure that we are all familiar with how another African oil producing country, Libya, utilised the revenue from its oil to develop its country. The standard of living of the people of Libya is one of the highest in Africa, falling in the category of countries with a GNP per capita of between USD 2,200 and USD 6000.

China’s thirst for Africa’s oil can only be a blessing to Africa if Africa leaders grow up, take the destiny of Africa in their hands and set the agenda for their engagement with China. Most importantly, African governments need to wake up to the realisation that it is their responsibility to develop Africa. Otherwise, China’s thirst will be quenched, the African leaders will be blessed with personal wealth and the people of Africa will, as usual, be cursed. Uganda is one of the African countries in which oil deposits have been discovered. So far, government discussion has hinged on how quickly we extract the oil and sell it. Very little or no attention is given on what and on how the Government of Uganda intends to utilise the revenue from the oil. A starting point would be the establishment of a national investment fund supervised by a Swiss banker!

Norah Owaraga is Advisor to Executive Director, Uganda Change Agent Association





Leveraging on Chinas Thirst to Develop Africa - To learn more about this author, visit Ken Teyie's Website.

Like this article? Share it with your friends

Article Feedback
 Article Feedback No article feedback found.
  Leave Your Feedback
article feedback

Article Feedback
Jeff Foster
WebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas.  We specialize in internet consulting & internet marketing
- Visit Jeff Foster's Website

John Power
John Power, founder of Biltmore Franchise Consulting, has extensive experience developing and marketing franchises and business opportunities. He has been in and around franchising for over twenty years. From 1980 through 1990 he conceptualized, organized, and developed the American Video Association. He grew AVA to 2,000 national members, before selling the company it 1990. It was later merged into another home video marketing company. From 2000 to 2005 he worked as a contract marketing and human resources consultant to several local and national companies. In 2005 Mr. Power began working as a franchise development consultant on a full-time basis. Since that time he has helped more than three dozen companies initiate and develop their franchising program. He notes that there are many companies interested in developing a franchise program, and who need his specialized assistance. Mr. Power is a “hands-on” franchise consultant. He said, “I am the ‘nuts and bolts’ person who tends to the details for my clients.” Mr. Power holds a B.S. degree with a major in Marketing. See: www.biltmorefranchise.com You may contact Mr. Power at: jpower@biltmorefranchise.co - Visit John Power's Website


To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us.

About The Author


Ken Teyie
(Visit Ken's Website) Ken Teyie works for Mondeas Limited as an Editorial manager. He previously worked for All Times Media, a publishing company based in Nairobi Kenya. He is a regular contributor in the online business magazines, www.africanexecutive.com and played a leading role in the initial branding of www.smartbizafrica.com and is in the process of building an international branding company that will provide the much needed boost in upcoming small and medium sized firms in Africa in terms of identifying new market opportunities and increasing their corporate reach. Through his blog, http://businessinfocus.blogspot.com , Mr. Teyie has been able to air views about business in Africa. His contributions can also be read at http://africareadyfor business.blogspot.com and www.kenyaimagine.com.

Ken Teyie is a Gold author on EvanCarmichael.com
About The Author

View Author Blog
Business in focus - For all your business information, Trends and Tips from around the world.
 Business in focus
View Author Blog

View Author Video
View Author Video

Free Downloads


Ken Teyie's

Complete
List Of
African-Accounts
Articles

Name
Email
If you enjoyed this article, get Ken Teyie's Complete List of African-Accounts Articles For FREE!

More Ken Teyie
The Carnival of African Enterprising
Thoughtless James Watson was seeking cheap publicity over Stupid Africa comment
Tanzania on a mission to wipe out Kenyas flamingoes
For gods sake please stop the aid to Africa
Do Africans Ever Learn Lessons from 10000 nameless black men
Is Africa Choking on its own development
Get aid or get paid
Is the United States of Africa already here
Lack of Credibility in the 2007 East Africas Most Respected Company Awards
Leveraging on Chinas Thirst to Develop Africa
Free Downloads


 
 
 


Evan Elite Authors
George Ludwig  
Cheryl Matthynssens  
Leanne Hoagland-Smith  
Evan Elite Authors

Become An Author
Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details.
Become An Author

Evan's Latest Video
Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media
Evan's Latest Video

Business Opportunities
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"

How to Start An Online Business

Click Here To Learn More
Business Opportunities



Evan's Newsletter
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Evan`s Newsletter

Free Downloads
How to Get a Life Icon How to Get a Life
Sample Press Release Icon Sample Press Release
Choice of Forum Icon Choice of Forum
Making Life Work Icon Making Life Work
Power of Concentration Icon Power of Concentration
Free Downloads - Complete List

Entrepreneur Tools and Guides
Top 50 Social Media Blogs
Top 50 Social Media Blogs
Top 50 Social Media Blogs
 
Top 50 Business Plan Blog Posts for 2008
Top 50 Business Plans
Top Business Plan Blogs
 
Entrepreneur Tools and Guides

SEO For Africa
SEO For Africa
Afoutouhlin Kuakuvi Lomé, Togo,
Afoutouhlin Kuakuvi
Lomé, Togo
SEO For Africa

If I Were A Startup...
Robert Iachetta, $372k to $921k in 2 years
Robert Iachetta
$372k to $921k in 2 years
Lisa Shepherd, $335k to $1.1 Mil in 2 years
Lisa Shepherd
$335k to $1.1 Mil in 2 years
If I Were A Startup... - Complete List

Famous Entrepreneurs
Fred DeLuca, Subway
Benjamin Franklin, P. Gazette
Famous Entrepreneurs - Complete List

Entrepreneur Advice
Timothy Ferriss, 4 Hour Work Week
Timothy Ferriss
4 Hour Work Week
Jay Conrad Levinson, Guerilla Marketing
Jay Conrad Levinson
Guerilla Marketing
Entrepreneur Advice - Complete List

Popular Articles
(Premium Authors)

     Marketing Letters that Open Doors
By Susan Regier
     Introductions to Be Remembered
By Susan Regier
     How to Write an Effective News Release
By Susan Regier

Have A Suggestion?
Toronto Salsa Classes / Toronto Salsa Lessons Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
Have A Suggestion?

More Evan Carmichael
More Information