12/26/2023 0 Comments Slapdash eu![]() In 2011, Human Rights Watch released a report detailing abuses of Zambian miners by their Chinese bosses. In Zambia, Chinese businesses have been accused of eliminating local traders via price competition, and Special Economic Zones have been criticized for bringing in foreign workers, contributing little to the local economy. ![]() For instance, in 2008 Japan funded a road-construction project in Kenya, and while it took longer to construct, it was highly praised for its quality, taking local considerations into account, and employing local construction companies. Japan, while unable to compete in sheer amount of investment, manages to compete by emphasizing a reputation for high-quality work and contributions to the local economy. For example, Addis Ababa’s recently-built Light Rapid Transit network, and the Chinese road project in Kenya, where only Chinese companies were assigned, and labor and raw materials were imported. Its products are often criticized as lacking in quality with ‘slapdash’ construction measures being employed. Such projects are often completed ahead of schedule, however, China is widely perceived as prioritizing business transactions and profits over quality. Competition with ChinaĬhina has long been heavily invested in Africa, funding the construction of transport links, stadiums, schools, and hospitals. This is all indicative of growing Japanese interest in engagement with Africa. Later that same month, the Japan-Africa Business Forum met to promote trade and mutual investment. Like its Chinese counterpart, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), TICAD will now meet every three years (as opposed to five) and will alternate between Japan and Africa.Īt the July 2017 African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, the African Development Bank and the Government of Japan signed the Japan-Africa Energy Initiative where Japan agreed to provide $6bn for energy projects. The conference also launched the Japan-Africa Public and Private Economic Forum, and PM Abe pledged $30bn in private and public sector investments over a three year period. The sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Nairobi (TICAD VI) in August 2016 saw the conclusion of infrastructure deals with Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. The 2015 launching of the Japan Partnerships for Quality Infrastructure program was established for just this purpose, and since then a variety of African countries have signed infrastructure agreements with Japan. More EngagementĪs a means of boosting its economy, the June 2013 ‘ Japan Revitalization Strategy’ set about turning Japan into a major infrastructure exporter. However, such projects are far from simply economic, and the outcome of developments in Africa have had geopolitical and security ramifications as far away as the East China Sea. ![]() Competition, largely in East and Sub-Saharan Africa, takes the form of winning infrastructure and development projects. Recent years have seen an increase in Japanese activity in Africa, something which has not gone unnoticed by China, a long-time player on the continent.
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