Dispelling Myths About Chinese Investment in Africa

Investment priorities and trends have changed as China’s economy and those of its African partners continue to develop. Chinese firms see an opportunity for lucrative, large-scale construction projects, while African governments see Chinese banks – with less stringent borrowing requirements than those of Western banks or multilateral development banks – as a source of capital for these projects. While these deals have not always gone smoothly, African governments have grown more savvy, and Chinese firms have grown to offer more diverse services in the face of competition. The Cipher Brief spoke to Aubrey Hruby, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center, about the evolving relationship between Chinese firms and African governments.

The Cipher Brief: China has been investing in Africa for some time. What can you tell us about some of the most recent trends in terms of where they’re investing and what sorts of industries they’re investing in?