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AN
HISTORIC STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY NOT TO SURRENDER TO T.I.N.A:
"There Is No Alternative" mantra
By Bienvenu-Magloire Quenum
The yearly G8 Summit (June 6-8, 2007) ends at Heiligendamm
/ Germany, with a vague promise to make available US$62 billion
to fight against AIDS / HIV in African countries.
As exposed
at the beginning to this article, this is not the first time the most industrialized
countries's Club promised to assist in the development of sub-Saharan
African countries. But, year after year, one notices that successive promises
remained unfulfilled. They are just promises, to be believed only by those
at the "receiving"
end.
Since the 1990s, most African leaders believed in these promises and hoped
for the fulfillment.
Now, quite 20 years later, it seems that they too are realizing
that nothing would come out from G8 summits. For decades to come.
Strategic
Power-shift from The West To The East
No substantial
financing to developing sub-Saharan African countries
would be decided upon, planned and executed by G8 western nations for decades
to come. Because first, these nations
are confronted with a harsh economic competition from emerging countries such
as China, Asian Tigers and Brazil; and, second, they are also preoccupied by
the dangerous volatile international political situation - the persisting political
imbroglio in the Middle East, the war in Iraq turning into a major strategic
disaster for the U.S. Not to forget the defiant and apparently
irreversible decision made by North Korea and Iran to entering the nuclear
club.
Indeed, Europe and America are at the crossroad. The economic, political and
military supremacy they are accustomed to exercise over the world at large is
challenged. They are having difficulties to cope with China's trading surplus
and to police the world as they wish and did for centuries.
So, knowing that Europe and America are confronted to a strong competition
from Asia and Latin America (and even from Russia, which regained political and
economic power more quickly than expected after the collapse of the Soviet Union),
does any African decision-maker really believe they will add to the burden assisting
Africa to develop?
Believing it is naive and irresponsible. Europe
and America prefer to have Africa as a permanent economic (and political) client as
explained in Walter Rodney's book.
An
Historic Opportunity To Take Advantage From The Power-shifting Process
Till now,
western nations "pretend" assisting Africa to develop. Listing Africa
as top agenda's item for G8 meetings, but never dealing thoroughly with the
matter to delivering substantial financial assistance. They manage for decades
to provide bilateral
state to state "minimum" assistance
to African countries, to show they are caring, and, in the same time, making
sure that funds allocated are channeled back to the donors through tight trade
and investment agreements.
To justify reluctance to do more,
they put conditions
such as fight against corruption, good governance and promotion of "Democracy"
- in accordance with rules they laid out themselves.
As if corruption exists
only in Africa and not in Europe and America. As if bad governance exists only
in Africa. What about the several big companies that went bankrupted
in America and Europe because they had been mismanaged by corrupted CEO
and directors? No need to list any corporation in particular. Each passing day,
international media report about huge financial scandals and nepotism misdemeanors
in America, Europe and Asia.
So, nothing really new under the sun. Africa is not the only corruption-plagued
continent, and Oriana Fallaci, the late Italian journalist / reporter
was right stating: "Scratch
the shining blazons of old European big families; prominent, nowadays, in the
world of finance and global entrepreneurial business and you shall find blood
and shit."
Of course, the purpose of last two paragraphs is not to absolve corrupted African
leaders, and to deny that corruption and bad governance are not responsible
for the non-development status existing now in African countries. In
a previous delivery the matter had been dealt with.
The purpose of these paragraphs is to denounce the double-standard ethic applied
by European and American decision-makers to the black continent: the use of corruption
and bad governance as final argument to refuse to "grant" sustained
and "abundant" financial assistance
to developing sub-Saharan African countries.
It seems that the exercise is a camouflaged dilatory tactic designed to counter
the emergence of economic competitors in Africa. A strategy that is
detrimental to the "security" and "safety" of America
and Europe. A dilatory "non assistance" strategy that is already backfiring,
for poor Africans will take all risks and do anything to migrate to what
they see as greener pastures in Europe and America. In the contrary, a prosperous
Africa would contribute to the political, social and economic stabilization
of the world. This is a huge subject that cannot be further discussed in this
article.
This dilatory non-assistance strategy could be summarized as follows:
You see, we cannot assist African countries developing further and at high pace
because African leaders are corrupted!
Since one decade at least, several sub-Saharan African countries made huge
steps into Democracy, dismantling the one-party system and holding multi-parties
ballots. Most of them have been submitted to Structural Adjustment Program
and forced to practice good governance.
Nevertheless, the international community
(another denomination for the G8 club dominated by western countries) granted
these countries no substantial financial assistance bonus, to strengthen the
democratic process, and accelerate the economic development to fight efficiently
against poverty.
In the contrary, each time African countries move one step toward good governance,
a new interference-criteria is put forward by western nations, to delay their
contribution.
Then comes
China, which steps into the development game in African countries posing no condition
for assistance. China talks about investment, aid
and trading with African leaders. No political interference. Not imposing an
economic ideology.
And suddenly, western developed nations discovered that they are no more the
only alternative for African countries. A new big-player had stepped in with
economic muscles to stand a fight and counter western nations political and economic
influence.
That is why the western nations are now worried that China is showing
interest to Africa, investing and trading. The "presence" of China in Africa
was even a top agenda's item for the summit at Heiligendamm. G8 western nations
are pretending that they cannot reduce African countries's debts if China, in
the meantime, is providing non-politically bound financial aid to Africa! China
is, according to the reasoning, increasing Africa's debt load!
Of course, China
also is taking care of its interests. No doubt about that.
However, the
interest China is showing to Africa, is a blessing,
for we Africans now have the rare opportunity to choose partners.
African
Countries Now Have Alternative To Choose Partners and Investors
Indeed, now is the time to take advantage of the rising of China as a superpower,
that gives African countries the opportunity to "freely" choose partners.
Such opportunity existed in the past, during the Soviet Union's era, before the
downfall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. After the independence in the 1960s, America
and Europe were forced to show interest in African countries, to provide financial
assistance to African countries, to contain Soviet Union influence in African
countries, and block its access to African strategic raw materials: uranium,
copper, and other minerals. The only drawback was that Soviet Union's Marxism
ideology, adopted by some African countries, was not the most efficient one to
developing.
But now, China is not imposing any political or economic ideology to African
countries. It is not forcefully advocating for "Democracy," with Globalization
of Poverty as background.
For a sober watcher of the international political stage,
it is obvious that G8 western countries are not willing to provide
huge amount of money and investment to African countries, to develop
and become competitors on the global marketplace.
It is then up to African decision-makers to seize the opportunity of the economic-rise
of China, to bargain and find international partners and investors.
For all their
unwillingness to relinquish political and economic control over other continents,
western countries cannot let go and ignore the development of African countries.
Their businesses and companies are also in search for clients and markets. So,
they cannot let "free
hand" to
China in African countries - if profit making projects are proposed by African
countries.
Profit-oriented
Project Find Investors and Partners
Therefore, one can deduct that an inevitable competition would emerge between
China, Europe and America to conquering market-shares in African countries. This
is an historic opportunity for African countries to take advantage of the competition
and propose profit-oriented projects (included in national developing schemes)
to international investors.
One fundamental criteria, in addition to proposing profit-oriented projects,
is to have
fully involved international partners
who are instituted co-managers as here exposed.
This economic development strategy would require that projects
included in national development schemes are first structured to generate
profits, and second, managed by African private sectors representatives together
with international partners /investors. African states being also equity-partners,
investors and guardian of national interest; but not involved in day-to-day management
of individual projects.
To implement such a development strategy would not be a difficult undertaking.
Africabiz had, in several
monthly issues, since 10 years, reported that profit-making
projects are endless in African countries.
To take advantage of this historic opportunity resulting from the rise of China,
African countries need to plan, short and long term.
Planning short term, waiting to stir the interest of international partners,
requires sometimes to start a developing project (on small scale)
to show international partners the potentiality of said project. And planning
long term is to have a master plan like the Strategy For African Countries exposed
here, to show the
international community of investors that the country is a good, profit making
destination.
You will not give money to your best friend, just like that, if he comes to you
asking for a loan. You would certainly wish to know what he plans
to do with the money. If the money is for fancy wedding or "show-off" expensive
burial ceremony, you would turn down his request. However, if your friend demonstrates
to you that he is setting-up a profit-making business, you would show some interest
and even express the willing to participate as an equity-share partner. And to
make sure that your money is used for the business, you would want to have a
seat on the management board.
Most African countries
are begging G8-club to provide huge amount of financing, without showing a master
plan on how they plan to use the money.
Look at Nepad. Since
2002, the date of its inception, have we seen
any credible master plan to promoting the economic development of the members
states?
Some African leaders are even speaking
of the "moral
responsibility" of G8 to assist the development of Africa. Complaints
to which G8 western leaders and decision-makers had, till now, turned
a deaf ear. In the contrary, they think, and they are right,
that
African leaders have the moral responsibility to reverse the economic stagnation
and decline of Africa.
Thanks to the rise of China as an economic powerhouse,
African leaders are now obliged to fulfill, at last - 50 years
after gaining formal political independence - the moral responsibility
to improve the plight of African citizens. Now is the rare
opportunity for Africa not to surrender to T.I.N.A
"CONTRIBUTOR'S
GUIDELINES" are
available here.
We invite you to contribute to AFRICABIZ ONLINE MONTHLY ISSUE - with
articles related to "How Africa Could Bridge The Developing
Gap".
About the author: Dr. Bienvenu-Magloire Quenum is the principal/
managing director of Dr. Quenum & Associates, IBC. He is an experienced
Investment & Business Planner with 25 years consulting practice
in African countries. He is the editor in chief of Africabiz Online
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Information (as topic) to
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use of the discussion board. This
link also is useful |
Many
thanks for subscribing to Africabiz. See you here on July 15, 2007.
Dr.
B.M. Quenum
Click for email address
|
| Business
Opportunities SUGAR-CANE
& PRODUCTS - PART VI: - A MEDIUM-SCALE OPERATION
TO MANUFACTURING BROWN SUGAR - A - PRELIMINARIES
This series'
first issue outlined the importance of sugar-cane as Economic
Catalyst to developing. The current delivery deals briefly with the preliminaries
about a labor intensive medium-scale operation - to produce brown sugar from
sugarcane juice - as an alternative to capital intensive facilities.
- THE BOILING
PROCESSS
This is a critical process that determines final product's yields. Small-scale
producers in Asian countries perform it in large pans over open fires or simple
furnaces. It is essential to use clean pans and tools, for once the juice has
been heated, impurities would speed the sugar-inversion process,
and lead to reduced yield of sucrose/ sugar. Therefore, the boiling pans and
tools should be thoroughly cleaned between uses.
Sediment settles to the bottom of the pan during boiling and is dredged out.
Scum rises to the top and is skimmed off. (These
wastes can be used to feed cattle). The end point of the boiling process
corresponds to a Brix (sugar content) of 90-95%. [Source]
The "perfect" control of the boiling process is therefore critical
in order to obtain a quality-stable final product that is appealing to consumers.
It requires experienced and skilled workers who have the adequate know-how to
transferring the juice from pan to pan, to ensuring (a) the
maximum clarification of the juice, (b) the maximum concentration
of juice into syrup and from syrup to massecuite,
and, finally, (c) the development of bigger and maximum number
of sugar crystals in the massecuite (RAB).
Therefore, investment estimate exposed in next
delivery - July 15, 2007/ Issue 99/100 will consider the utilization
of modern technology - yet affordable - Open Pan Boiling/ Evaporating System
to establishing a medium-scale operation to producing brown sugar/ muscovado.
The production chart-flow available
here shows that the Centrifugal process yields 50 kg
of lightly colored brown sugar and about 80 kg of brown sugar (melted) with molasses
- from one ton of sugarcane sticks.
Next delivery (Issue
99/100 July 15, 2007) will give more information about the centrifugal process
and expose data and economics to sizing up a medium-scale operation to producing
brown sugar (from sugarcane juice) - based on labor intensive modern technology.
For more on
the matter click here.
| MORE ON
SUGAR CANE & PRODUCTS |
1- Sugar
Cane Industry, The (Cambridge Studies in Historical Geography)
by J.H. Galloway (Paperback Sep 23, 2005)
2- The
House Surrounded by Sugar
by Leanna Williams (Paperback - Mar 8, 2006)
3- From
Cane to Sugar (Start to Finish)
by Jill Braithwaite (Hardcover - Aug 2004)
4- Cane
Sugar Handbook: A Manual for Cane Sugar Manufacturers and Their Chemists
by James C. P. Chen and Chung Chi Chou (Hardcover - Nov 8, 1993)
5- Sugar
Cane
by Alex Morgan (Paperback - Aug 28, 2002)
6- The
Sugar cane factory: A catechism of cane sugar manufacture for the use of
beginners
by Frederic I Scard (Unknown Binding - 1913)
|
7- Sugar
Cane Cultivation and Management
by Henk, Bakker and H., Bakker (Hardcover - Jan 1, 1999)
8- Sugar
Cane (Tropical Agriculturalist)
by R. Fauconnier (Paperback - Feb 24, 1993)
9- Management
Accounting for the Sugar Cane Industry (Sugar Sciences, Vol 8)
by A. E. Fok Kam (Hardcover - Mar 1988)
10- The
nature and properties of the sugar cane
With practical directions for the improvement of its cultures, and the
manufacture of its products)
by George Richardson Porter (Unknown Binding - 1831)
11- Sugar-cane
and Sugar Industry in Nigeria
The Bitter Sweet Lessons
by Abdul-latif D. Busari (Paperback - Nov 2005)
12- The
2007-2012 World Outlook for Sugar Cane Mill Products
by Philip M. Parker (Paperback - Oct 13, 2006)
|
Adobe
Acrobat Reader Is Available here
Click here
to read more about the matter
Control Your Desktop
ARE YOU EXPERIENCING JERKY VIDEO / DVD PLAYBBACK - PART II: INSTALL ADDITIONAL
CODECS TO THE ORIGINALS THAT SHIPPED WITH WINDOWS XP
Click
following link for Part I of this series: Update
Your Graphic Card Drivers To The Right Ones Compatible With Your Operating System
To troubleshoot, we have to explore four lanes for solutions: (1) Detect
what is (eventually) wrong with the graphic card; (2) Investigate
CODECS (Compressing Decompressing Software) to see if the right (efficient) one
is installed on the system; (3) Make sure that the right or
latest Adobe Flash Media Player(s) update/ upgrade are installed, and (4) Verify
that there is no memory-leak when
playing videos.
Current issue deals
with (possible) problems linked to Codecs installed on the system.
The subject had already been exposed in a previous delivery titled: Do
You Have The Right Codecs?
CODECS? Compressing
Decompressing Software, in plain English, are utilities that assist the DVD
device and other media player /programs to smoothly read and play movies and
video clips. For more on te
matter visit this link.
|
