China-Africa Trade, Finance and Foreign Direct Investment Report, on the Road to FOCAC

The Boston University Global Development Policy Center (GDP Center) manages a suite of interactive databases that collectively track hundreds of billions of dollars in Chinese loans and investment to a variety of sectors, including energy and other infrastructure development. The GDP Center manages and updates these databases in a bid to provide transparent information to aid research, education, policymaking, journalism and accountability with regards to China’s overseas development finance and projects around the world.

The GDP Center and the African Economic Research Consortium recently published a New Report (2024), which analyses 22 years of China-Africa trade, finance and FDI data (2000-2022), to evaluate trends, reveal gaps and identify pathways for China’s support to Africa’s energy access and transition amidst economic challenges and energy opportunities.

Over the past three decades, China-Africa economic engagement has deepened across trade, development finance and foreign direct investment (FDI), contributing to African countries’ development and bringing economic benefits, but also some environmental risks.

The report finds that past economic engagement has helped African countries overcome infrastructure bottlenecks but has also replicated trade patterns where Africa exchanges its primary resources for finished goods.

China’s historic economic relationship with Africa positions it as a contributor to African sustainable development, a topic that will no doubt feature prominently at the upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in September 2024.

If China and African countries intend to tackle current development objectives like energy access and transition at the FOCAC, what forms of finance and which industries are promising targets for future cooperation?

On Wednesday, August 7, 15:00-16:30 SAST / 9:00-10:30 AM EST, join us, the Wits Africa-China Reporting Project and the African Economic Research Consortium for a webinar discussion on China-Africa trade, finance and FDI, on the road to the next FOCAC. During the discussion, researchers and data analysts will share the key findings from the report. It is beneficial of attendees to review the report prior to attending the Webinar, in order to present any questions or comments during the discussion session.

Speakers:

- Lucas Engel, Data Analyst, Global China Initiative, Boston University Global Development Policy Center

- Dianah Ngui Muchai, Collaborative Research Manager, African Economic Research Consortium

- Maureen Heydt, Assistant Director, Communications & Outreach, Boston University Global Development Policy Center

- Bongiwe Tutu (Moderator), Project Coordinator, Africa-China Reporting Project, Wits University