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Published 1st January 2009

Vol 2 (AAC) No 3


Another new world order

Image courtesy of Panos Pictures
Image courtesy of Panos Pictures

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Beijing's trade and investment in Africa will continue to grow despite a few credit-crunch casualties

Like every other major economy, China is reassessing its priorities, and worrying about unemployment and falling market demand. Beijing's policymakers will therefore concentrate more on domestic economic growth and spend less time winning hearts and minds in Africa with shows of developmental largesse. However, this is a tactical twist rather than a strategic change.


Delhi defies the downturn

Image courtesy of Panos Pictures

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India's ministers predict that trade with Africa will hit US$100 billion, but it will take many more deals and deeper import and export diversification

Over the next five years, New Delhi expects India's trade with Africa to reach US$100 billion - despite the global economic slowdown. In an upbeat analysis of relations with Africa,...


Africa tests rapprochement

Taipei's strategy enters a new era as it talks about cooperation with Beijing and ends dollar diplomacy in Africa

Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou's new diplomatic strategy of rapprochement with China is making waves from the Taiwan Strait to distant African shores. Agreements have been signed between the two sides' semi-official...


Ploughing new fields

Asia's smaller states look to agricultural cooperation with Africa for mutually beneficial trade

Cambodia's diplomatic reach in Africa is extremely limited but its rice exports are expanding fast despite questions about their quality. With a record surplus of over 2.8 million tonnes in 2008,...


Good intentions meet reality

Private companies are sceptical about Tokyo's African enthusiasms as the slowdown hits their operations at home

Tokyo's promises to double aid to Africa by 2012 are being tested by international financial pressure on Japan's already feeble economy - and by domestic political troubles. Prime Minister Taro Aso...


State agencies lead the way

Most of the impetus for Japanese companies in Africa will be coming from state agencies. The Japanese International Cooperation Agency wants to test its newly expanded powers and wider funding base,...



Pointers

Muhyiddin Yassin

International Trade and Industries Minister, Malaysia

Muhyiddin Yassin is one of three vice-presidents of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the leading member of the Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition, and as Trade Minister, one of the...


Chen Deming

Minister of Commerce, China

Touring Africa in the wake of the global credit crunch has been a sobering experience for China's Commerce Minister, Chen Deming. His 12-19 January trip began in Kenya, where Finance...


Cho Hwan-eik

President, Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), South Korea

The President of KOTRA studied political science at Seoul National University, and has an MBA from New York University and a doctorate in business administration from Hanyang University.


Ibrahim Ali Hassan

Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs, Egypt

The Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs is a fixture at the major Asian development events, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Tokyo International Conference on African Development. The long-serving...