Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring: ARGENTINA and AFRICA

AFRICA IS FORECAST TO EMERGE AS THE FASTEST-GROWING REGION IN THE WORLD OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

ARGENTINA'S WISE FORESIGHT

Spanish version of this article will follow in due course

GEOPOLITICAL REPERCUSSIONS ON ARGENTINE PRESIDENT'S LATEST STATE VISIT TO ANGOLA

ARGENTINA’S foresight in seeking economic ties with AFRICAN counties such as ANGOLA, SOUTH AFRICA etc. will prove to be priceless in the not too distant future for ARGENTINA, because AFRICA is the “rising continent” that many countries seem to have neglected for various reasons.

SUB SAHARA AFRICA, EMERGING MARKETS OF TOMORROW

In 2012, SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA is rapidly coming of age as an economic region and as an investment destination. The so-called "frontier" markets of today's AFRICA will be the emerging markets of tomorrow.

Over the next five years, according to the IMF, seven economies in SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA are expected to be among the ten fastest growing economies in the world. In 2011, the economy of GHANA grew by 13.7%, while ETHIOPIA'S grew by 8.5%. Elsewhere, the MOZAMBIQUE economy grew by 7.5%, NIGERIA and ZAMBIA by 6.8%, and the Democratic Republic of CONGO by 6.5%.

ARGENTINA seems to be one of the countries that understand what this means, and the opportunity it presents. ARGENTINA has what AFRICA needs most: Nutritious food supply, agriculture technology and engineering know-how, water and health care, mining industry know-how to name but a few.

AFRICA: ENORMOUS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES

ARGENTINA, just like AUSTRALIA could jump the bandwagon and benefit from the mining boom. There are around 200 AUSTRALIAN mining companies with operations in AFRICA, and they are involved in projects valued in excess of $45 billion. ARGENTINA on the other hand herself experiences a mining boom that will boost its economy, thus ARGENTINA could increase its presence on the continent by providing professional services, education and infrastructure projects.

A perfect example for the emerging market trend in AFRICA is AUSTRALIA. Following Two-way trade between AFRICAN countries and AUSTRALIA is reaching $5 billion a year, and has been on an upward trajectory for several years.

AFRICA IS FORECAST TO EMERGE AS THE FASTEST-GROWING REGION IN THE WORLD OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

Seeking economic ties with the continent augurs well for the future, both for AFRICA and ARGENTINA. AFRICA is forecast to emerge as the fastest-growing region in the world over the next 20 years. To realize this growth, it will have to nurture a number of key competitive advantages: the world's richest mineral and energy deposits, the most arable land, and what is predicted to be the youngest population in the world by 2050.

ARGENTINA’S current prosperity is largely due to its own resource boom. By mid-century, that boom may well have extended to AFRICA and helped drive a huge wave of supplementary development, raising living and education standards throughout the continent.

According to inside sources ARGENTINA is planning to establish liaison offices for international trade in various AFRICAN countries. AFRICA, the continent will be looming large on more than just ARGENTINA’S investment radar in the coming decades. And if we can keep economies open for multilateral investment, this will present an opportunity for everyone.

DEROGATIVE COMMENT BY RENOWNED ARGENTINE JOURNALIST JORGE LANATA ON CURRENT STATE VISIT TO ANGOLA BY ARGENTINIAN PRESIDENT

In view of above mentioned facts, it seems strange that a renowned ARGENTINE journalist such as JORGE LANATA, criticized the ARGENTINE President, who visited ANGOLA in order to increase economic ties between the countries and generate bilateral business ventures.

ACCORDING TO LANATA, ARGENTINA SHOULD FOCUS ON ECONOMIC TIES WITH EUROPE AND THE USA RATHER THEN AFRICA!!

When allegedly asked by a journalist what he, LANATA thought about ARGENTINA’S AFRICAN venture he condemned the ARGENTINE government and responded in a derogative way: “This is our future”?, referring to ARGENTINA’S Economic and Geopolitical focus on AFRICA, instead of EUROPE and the USA!

In view of the current economic growth Africa is experiencing, such comment seems rather inadequate to say the least, or show rather decisive ignorance, lack of objectivity and Geo- and Eco-political know-how.