A Canadian partnership with Africa is overdue: Senator Gerba
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Contrary to the skewed representation of Africa prevalent in Canada, particularly in government bodies and sometimes in the media, the continent is progressing in many key areas — including in its increasing participation in the international community. The economy is growing and advanced technologies are spreading. Major projects are providing Africa with infrastructure it had been lacking until now.
Africa, which until fairly recently had been deprived of the representation to which it was entitled in world affairs, was recently admitted to the G20 through the African Union. Another two of its countries have just joined BRICS + 5. The continent’s presence on the boards of the World Bank and the Monetary Fund has also expanded. Africa also benefits from renewed co-operation with all the world’s powers, including the United States, China, the European Union and some of its member countries like India, Japan and the Gulf states. Its main financial institution, the African Development Bank, is rated extremely highly by its 82 shareholder countries and rating agencies, which give it an AAA, the highest rating on the world market.
On the economic and trade front, the roll-out of the African Continental Free Trade Area has begun, and several countries on the continent are already enforcing the rules and regulations that will prevail in what will soon be the world’s largest integrated market. In 2024, 11 of the 20 countries with the strongest economic growth in the world are African.
Africa is currently benefiting from considerable investment in crucial areas like communications, energy, transportation and urban development.
For example, the U.S. is a major contributor to the Lobito corridor project, funding it to the tune of $2.3 billion. The 1,300-kilometre corridor will make it possible to cross the continent from east to west for the first time. It’s worth noting that Bloomberg puts the number of defaults on major projects in Africa at the lowest in the world.
As in every region of the planet, the continent’s track record is not all upsides. But on Africa Day, it is time to celebrate its great strides and ask how Canada can once again make an effective and lasting contribution as part of a win-win partnership.
Senator Amina Gerba represents the Rigaud division of Quebec in the Senate.
This letter was published in Le Devoir on May 25, 2024 (in French only).
Contrary to the skewed representation of Africa prevalent in Canada, particularly in government bodies and sometimes in the media, the continent is progressing in many key areas — including in its increasing participation in the international community. The economy is growing and advanced technologies are spreading. Major projects are providing Africa with infrastructure it had been lacking until now.
Africa, which until fairly recently had been deprived of the representation to which it was entitled in world affairs, was recently admitted to the G20 through the African Union. Another two of its countries have just joined BRICS + 5. The continent’s presence on the boards of the World Bank and the Monetary Fund has also expanded. Africa also benefits from renewed co-operation with all the world’s powers, including the United States, China, the European Union and some of its member countries like India, Japan and the Gulf states. Its main financial institution, the African Development Bank, is rated extremely highly by its 82 shareholder countries and rating agencies, which give it an AAA, the highest rating on the world market.
On the economic and trade front, the roll-out of the African Continental Free Trade Area has begun, and several countries on the continent are already enforcing the rules and regulations that will prevail in what will soon be the world’s largest integrated market. In 2024, 11 of the 20 countries with the strongest economic growth in the world are African.
Africa is currently benefiting from considerable investment in crucial areas like communications, energy, transportation and urban development.
For example, the U.S. is a major contributor to the Lobito corridor project, funding it to the tune of $2.3 billion. The 1,300-kilometre corridor will make it possible to cross the continent from east to west for the first time. It’s worth noting that Bloomberg puts the number of defaults on major projects in Africa at the lowest in the world.
As in every region of the planet, the continent’s track record is not all upsides. But on Africa Day, it is time to celebrate its great strides and ask how Canada can once again make an effective and lasting contribution as part of a win-win partnership.
Senator Amina Gerba represents the Rigaud division of Quebec in the Senate.
This letter was published in Le Devoir on May 25, 2024 (in French only).