VLADIMIR Putin has sent warm greetings to African leaders, business people and partici­pants early October, signal­ing that everything is set for the first Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi, south­ern coastal city of Russia. The message reads, in part: “Today, the countries of Africa are well on their way towards social, economic, scientific and techno­logical development, and are playing a significant role in international affairs. They are strengthening mutually ben­eficial integration processes within the African Union and other regional and sub-regional organizations across the continent.”

In recent years, the traditionally friendly ties of partnership between Russia and Africa have gained new mo­mentum, both at a bilateral level and in various multilateral formats. In addition to preserving past experience of suc­cessful cooperation, have also managed to make significant new steps forward. Trade and investment are growing dynamically, and new joint projects are under way in extractive industries, ag­riculture, healthcare, and education. Russian companies are ready to offer their scientific and technological devel­opments to their African partners, and share their experience of upgrading energy, transport and communications infrastructures, according to President Putin.

It is, broadly, expected that the Sum­mit will help identify new areas and forms of cooperation, put forward pro­mote collaboration between Russia and Africa to a qualitatively new level and further contribute enormously to the development of bilateral relations be­tween Russia and Africa.

According to the Organizing Commit­tee, some 50 African heads of state have already confirmed their participation. It will feature more than 200 CEOs, ministers of key industries, and representa­tives of the expert community from Russia and Africa. The events will be at­tended by more than 3,000 representa­tives of African businesses.

The main event are the plenary ses­sion “Russia-Africa: Uncovering the Po­tential for Cooperation” during which the Presidents of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, are ex­pected to speak. A final declaration of the Summit titled “For Peace, Security, and Development” has been prepared and it includes items on the global and regional agendas that are important for Russia as well as comprehensive pro­posals on diverse ways to develop the full scope of future Russian-African relations in addition, at least 23 intergovernmental and interagency agreements and other agreements between African and Russian companies will be signed on the sidelines. Under the theme “Rus­sia and Africa: Uncovering the Potential for Cooperation” here are the key areas the Summit will discuss:

*The Role of Media in Russian-Afri­can Relations

The African continent is becoming ever more important in today’s interna­tional order. Russian-African relations are adding an additional dimension to developments, especially with the boost provided by rapidly expanding links across a vast range of areas. The media can, and indeed must be a deci­sive factor in building effective ties. Afri­ca is frequently portrayed in the media as suffering from numerous intergov­ernmental, religious, and ethnic con­flicts; political and economic instability; and an array of demographic and social problems. Knowledge of today’s Russia and the steps being taken by its politi­cal leaders to tackle global challenges is also given little space in the continent’s media landscape.

Contribution of Nuclear Technolo­gies in the Development of Africa

Today, African countries face major challenges. Rapid population growth and the worsening energy crisis are constraining economic growth on the continent. The poor transport infra­structure, access of the population to health services, low level of education and food supply insecurity are severely hampering Africa’s efforts to improve the quality of life in the region. It is clear that to solve these problems a large- scale development programme is re­quired, including a strategy based on achieving the UN sustainable develop­ment goals. Nuclear technologies can become a driver for socio-economic development and a com­prehensive solution to the systemic continent-wide problems.

Humanitarian cooperation: Development Goals and Corporate Social Responsibility

Humanitarian partnership between Russia and African countries is becoming increasingly important. It is an area covering the development of human capital (education and culture), social programmes, healthcare, and access to essen­tial benefits supporting people’s lives and national develop­ment in countries across the continent.

Current Objectives in Developing the Housing Construction Market on the African Continent

Access to housing is one of the most pressing issues facing most African countries. Modern housing and a comprehen­sive approach to spatial planning can help ensure sustainable urban development and socioeconomic growth. We must now determine the needs of the housing construction market in African countries and identify joint solutions and ways of working together to achieve the most effective results in the shortest possible time. Practical steps aimed at identifying, supporting, and implementing joint projects are vital to such partnerships.

Investing in Africa

In 2050, Africa’s total GDP will reach $29 tn, exceeding the combined GDP of US and Euro zone in 2012. Pan-African and national growth strategies as well as global thinktanks’ fore­casts highlight the following growth areas and potential key drivers of the continent’s rise in the medium and long term: commodities; infrastructure (utilities and roads) and indus­trialization,- demography; education; expanding middle class; access to financial services. These factors will define the conti­nent’s investment outlook: future investment climate, current investments and their diversification. They have potential ei­ther to bolster or hamper the capital inflows.

Economic Sovereignty for Africa: Problems and Solu­tions

In order to fulfil their development objectives and meet the needs of their citizens, countries in Africa are compelled to turn to foreign sources of financing. However, these mainly take the form of credit from international financial institutions and direct loans whereby the creditor imposes socioeconom­ic and political requirements which limit a country's sover­eignty. Sovereign bonds and other forms of borrowing on the capital market account for just a small proportion of African debt, but some countries on the continent are still unable to access this form of financing. As a result, more than USD 100 billion of borrowing potential is going untapped. More than USD 200 billion of existing debt could be refinanced under less stringent conditions.

Russia and Africa: Energy for Development and Coop­eration

Africa today has a population of over one billion people, huge resource potential and a platform for development. The continent has the potential to become one of the world’s larg­est economies and most populated regions by 2050 through organic growth and reform. Creating a foundation for growth at the very outset and using the continent's mineral wealth in the most effective way possible requires the right energy policy.

Transport Infrastructure on the African Continent: Op­portunities to Implement Joint Projects

The transport sector in Africa possesses excellent potential for development. The continent’s railways offer great promise, as do joint ventures. Several African nations have prioritized the development of their transport infrastructures, particu­larly given transport’s ability to spur growth in key industries. The expansion of transport links brings with it additional jobs and expertise, and improves quality of life for the local popu­lation. Russia is able to offer technology and expertise at the very forefront of construction, planning, engineering, and equipment supplies. However, there remain a number of bar­riers to the market, as well as a lack of financing and country specific risks.

Financing as an Essential Instrument of Economic Growth in Africa

The African continent has enormous eco­nomic potential and is actively integrating into the system of international economic relations. Prospects for Russia to increase its trade with African countries are directly linked to the di­versification of its merchandise exports. However, this is only a realistic aim if international financing channels are put in place to facilitate growth in trade. Given the interest in Russia and Africa increasing economic cooperation, new solutions need to be found to implement ambitious trade projects.

Russian-African Collaboration in the Dia­mond Industry

The diamond mining industry is key to the economies of several African countries, ac­counting for a significant portion of income from exports. Today, diamond mining faces a number of industry-wide challenges, attempts to tackle which will determine its future.

The Future of the African Continent: Sover­eignty and Traditional Values as Crucial Ele­ments of a Development Strategy

In an era of globalization, protecting national values and priorities is a pressing concern. Eco­nomic and political sovereignty are the foundation of development in a polycentric world, and African countries are no exception. The African Union’s strategic framework Agenda 2063 high­lights the importance of preserving African val­ues and Pan-Africanism.

Collaboration in Industry: Potential Ar­eas of Growth

The development of high-tech and export- oriented industries in the Russian manufac­turing sector has laid the groundwork for ex­panding areas of collaboration and launching ambitious long-term projects. What needs to be done to bring about a substantial improvement in collaboration between Russia and Africa? Which areas of cooperation are of most inter­est to Russian businesses and African nations? What projects and forms of Russian-African partnership are in need of financial support from parties such as Afreximbank?

Doing Business in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities

Today, Africa is one of the most promising and fastest-growing regions of the world, with leading powers actively competing with one another. However, the continent should not be viewed as a single, monolithic market. Its economy varies from place to place in terms of type, scale, and structure. Africa today is a place of great political, cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity. As a result, each country has a unique business culture, requiring an individual ap­proach from any company wishing to enter its market.

Biosecurity: Current Projects and Oppor­tunities for Cooperation

Global threats in today’s interconnected world, such as epidemics of infectious diseases, have a huge impact on the development of Af­rican nations. Robust healthcare systems and the ability to react to these threats can boost prosperity and help countries to thrive. Over the past few years, the African continent has had to tackle outbreaks of dangerous infec­tious diseases affecting thousands of lives and costing national economies millions of dollars. Russia has a great deal of experience in react­ing to health threats, and today is implement­ing large-scale projects in countries around the world.

Digital Transformation as a Driver of State Development

Today, digitalization is a major driver of state development. Effective e-government simpli­fies communication between people and the state, and helps create an effective system for departments to interact with one another. As a result, people gain quicker access to govern­ment services. In turn, this leads to greater user satisfaction, and substantial monetary savings.

The Eurasian Economic Union and Africa: Trends and Opportunities to Develop Integrat­ed Processes and Collaborate

Over the past few decades, economic inte­gration processes have become an overarching trend in regional development throughout the world.

They have helped member states to success­fully embed themselves in the global economy and minimize the risk of crises occurring in various industries.

Economic integration provides a new per­spective on crucial projects related to infra­structure, logistics, energy, trade, agricultural and industrial development, digitalization, mi­gration policy, and employment.

By KesterKenn Klomegah

The Guardian

Wednesday, October 23, 2019