“More prosperity means more democracy” for Africa

By an IPS Correspondent Reprint | | Print |

United Nations, Nov 30 2012 (IPS) - “ There is both an enormous economic growth and growth potential in numerous countries in Africa, “ Ambassador Jim Mclay, permanent representative of New Zealand to the UN said during a discussion about the Africa’s coming economic revolution. The meeting was held at the Mission of New-Zealand to the UN.

According to Charles Robertson, author of ‘The Fastest Billion : The Story Behind Africa’s Economic Revolution’  and Global Chief Economist for Renaissance Capital, an investment banking firm based in Russia, “ Africa’s exports  have risen from less than 200 billion dollars in 1998 to almost 700 billion dollars in 2011.”

Africa’s share of the global trade has risen from 2.2 percent in 1998 to 3.3 percent in 2011.  “The key change is demographic,” says Robertson. He added that if demography is not a good thing by default, along with education, it permits a more value added economy.

The education rate in Sub-Saharan Africa has risen from nine percent in 1975 to 30 percent in 2011.

“Corruption is a big problem for Africa but if you link corruption to the per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for different countries, you can see that Africa is exactly where it should be, according to the economic situation and even better in some countries,” said Robertson.

“Africa’s economic situation is the same than India’s when it enters a fast growth trajectory in the 1980’s with a growth domestic product around five or six percent a year,” stated Robertson.

“There will be an amazing increase of the living standards in Africa in the next 30 years,” he added. For instance, the average per capita growth domestic product in Nigeria is forecast to reach 10,000 dollars by 2038.

This forecast implies that most African countries will be real democracy by 2050.  “The democratic factor is one of the issues for African development,” said Under-Secretary-General Maged Abdelaziz, UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Africa.

“Africa is still in need of many structural changes in the next few years,” he added.  But as he also stated “the countries which have known the Arab spring had a five to six percent growth.”

“Bad news are making headlines, good news are always in page 2 or 3. Success stories have to make it on headlines,” he said.

“The UN can help by monitoring the corruption and help these countries to be more transparent,” added Mike Moran, one of the contributing authors to  Fastest Billion.

Abdelaziz added that 32 African countries had already agreed to be reviewed about the corruption issue. “There is also a need for social integration in Africa,” said Abdelaziz.

“The wealth needs to come first, and then a country can deal with the protection of its minorities,” Robertson told IPS.

Indeed, “many African countries have already begun to realize on the potential they have with an important and sustainable growth,” said McLay.