CSPS Seminar on "Chinese Mining and Infrastructure Projects in Africa: what socio-economic impacts?"

In the last decades, China has emerged as Africa's biggest bilateral trading partner, one of the top five foreign direct investors and a significant contributor of development finance. Chinese demand for African natural resources and agricultural commodities has had an important impact on the performance of African economies over the past decade and Chinese investments in the infrastructure sector roads, power, ports, harbours and new airports have opened up opportunities for African producers and merchants. Yet this presence has had variable positive and negative socio-economic and environmental impact on African populations which require careful evaluation and better policy implementation.