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21 century Africa

It’s a different world now!

“... for Africa as a whole, the urban population is projected to increase from 41% to 59%
of the total population between now and 2050,

...that means an increase in the urban population from 491 million in 2015 to 1.49 billion
in 2050, “

“Africa 2050: Demographic Truth and Consequences”
Hoover Institution,
Stanford University
(There are some opposing views on just how much this process actually helps a country's overall
development. However, there is little doubt that urbanisation does provide the foundation for building an
educated, skilled workforce. It is rare to transition from a low-income country (LIC) to a middle-income
country (MIC) without first having to go through a process of urbanisation.)
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Infrastructure Investment

Investment valued at more than US$50 Billion is already underway to increase larger deep-
water port capacity and to build extensive modern railways that will provide a modern, fast

inter-country distribution network for manufacturers and traders.

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Free Trade Areas

Three regional trade groups have already agreed to the formation of a mega trade bloc, the
Tripartite Free Trade Area, consisting of

 COMESA Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa

 EAC East African Community
 SADC Southern African Development Community

Some research suggests that eliminating tariffs within this mega trade bloc could expand
intra-regional trade by 30%. The continent could soon be home to the world's largest free

trade area, "Continental Free Trade Area" (CFTA)
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.Economic Freedom (Independence)
How much 'economic freedom' do African nations really have?

“ Leaders have devoted themselves to politics, little knowing, it seems that political
independence disappears without economic independence, that economic independence

is the foundation of political independence ”
Booker T. Washington 88

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