How China is Facilitating Africa’s “Structural Transformation”

Source: Aiddata.com, Version 2.0 accessed on October 7, 2021. Note: Composition of the 3,126 completed and “recommended for aggregates” projects in Africa financed or co-financed by China 2000-2017, by sector. The health sector accounted for 24 percent of the total project count. But by amount of finance, energy and transport were the two largest subsectors, as these projects are large in size and long term.

For much of the past 20 years, China has been the indispensable actor in African infrastructure development, financing the construction of thousands of kilometers of new railways and roads along with ports, airports, and power stations.

But has it been enough to help some African countries transition from relying primarily on resource extraction to developing a manufacturing sector and eventually building a services sector in their economies?

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Eric Olander

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3
China, U.S. Ink Rare Earth Deal; More Trade Pacts Coming
4
Chinese-Moroccan Joint Venture Inaugurates EV Battery Parts Plant
5
Six Million Donkeys Slaughtered for Chinese Medicine: Charity
6
Rubio to Welcome Asian ‘Quad’ Back to Washington

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP