A RECENT report from the US Department of Commerce says the volume of trade between the US and sub-Saharan Africa (both import and export) fell substantially in 2002. Quoting the report the East African Standard added that foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to the region rose from US$6.2-billion in 2000 to US$12.4-bn in 2002. However, warned the departmental study, “the increase did not reflect actual rise in new investment, but rather a stock swop involving two conglomerates with major holdings in SA.”
