Demonstrating their global reach, Brazil, Russia, India and China are improving ties with Africa. The BRICs are looking to gain influence, friends, access to raw materials and export markets.
Standard Bank of South Africa is publishing a “BRIC in Africa” series focusing on the new players in Africa (the initial report was released in May and Standard Bank published its coverage of China this week – all documents can be downloaded here). According to the research, trade between the BRICs and the continent has expanded rapidly from $16 billion in 2000 to $157 billion in 2008.
Stay tuned for a series of posts on each country’s engagement in Africa.
Image from Wikipedia and photos from Agence France-Presse/Getty Images, James Hill for The New York Times, AFP and Goh Chai Hin.
