‘Africa must manage China’s regional investments’

CHINA’S INVESTMENTS in roads, rail and ports in Africa need to be maintained and managed by African governments says Pieter Snyman, executive director for Africa for The Beijing Axis. African governments should not allow Chinese companies to have a free hand in infrastructural activities, Snyman told FTW. “South Africa in particular is very strict when it comes to using local labour in projects undertaken by international companies.” He believes African governments should encourage Chinese business people to take part in local business organisations active in Africa. This would ensure greater understanding of relationships between businesses as well as among businesses, governments and citizens, in his view. “Clearly China is building these to enable its own logistics for resource extraction. Given the lack of infrastructure in countries with huge deposits of resources we have great opportunities opening up across the continent. It is up to us to take advantage of these. “Creating an awareness of the value of infrastructure development whether by the Chinese or any other investor is of utmost importance.”