Petros Dlamini, Humphrey Fellow and Director of Operations, Swaziland Posts and Telecommunications Corporation, Kingdom of Swaziland
under: Speaker discussion
Mar 3 – Telecommunications
Posted by: Global Business Center | March 5, 2009 | 6 Comments |Mar 10 – Transportation
Posted by: Global Business Center | February 23, 2009 | 2 Comments |Zine A. Badissy, Chairman & President, Air transportation support group
under: Speaker discussion
Feb 17 – Middle Eastern Society
Posted by: Global Business Center | February 17, 2009 | 15 Comments |David Woodward, CEO, Associates in Cultural Exchange. For 35 years, A.C.E. has been helping organizations and individuals around the world create new connections and build interpersonal networks with those of other language and cultural backgrounds through education. Born in Iran and fluent in Arabic and Persian, David advises companies and government agencies in Seattle and the Middle East on how to work together.
under: Speaker discussion
Feb 10 – Economic Development
Posted by: Global Business Center | February 4, 2009 | 3 Comments |Roger Meece, Former Ambassador to the Republic of the Congo
under: Speaker discussion
Feb 3 – Market
Posted by: Global Business Center | February 3, 2009 | 13 Comments |Adrienne Coffman, Director of Global Accounts, PACCAR - with a focus on North Africa and the Middle East
under: Speaker discussion
Jan 30 – Special Event: Global Summit on Iran
Posted by: Global Business Center | January 26, 2009 | 9 Comments |Rick Steves – Entrepreneur, Author, TV Presenter and Social Activist. This class will meet at 5:30 on a Friday afternoon.
under: Speaker discussion
Jan 27 – Real Estate/Retail in UAE
Posted by: Global Business Center | January 22, 2009 | 11 Comments |Michel Hebrant, Director, Callison Architects, global architecture firm doing extensive work in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and other parts of the Middle East
under: Speaker discussion
China and Africa
Posted by: mutua | January 21, 2009 | 1 Comment |
Anymore it seems like one can’t crack open a newspaper, business magazine or journal without the topic of China’s rise to economic dominance being discussed. Just a couple of days ago I read an article on CNN about China ascension over Germany as the world’s third largest economy.
(http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/01/15/china.economy/)
In his new best-seller “The Post-American World,” Fareed Zakaria dedicates one chapter to the subject of China rise, which he titles “The Challenger.” For what it’s worth, this chapter is probably the best summary of China’s rise to economic dominance that I’ve read in a long time.
What is not often talked about though, is the ever evolving relationship between China and Africa. A couple of years ago I saw what I considered an interesting article on this subject (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7086777.stm) and sent it to a couple of my Kenyan friends. One of my friends commented thus:
“Interesting subject.I don’t mind buying from or paying the Chinese if their bids are the best especially for infrastructure projects, but our govts. should be careful when negotiating with them.
My fear is that some are not, and we could be setting ourselves up for the new scramble for africa.
It’s fine if you come and bulid a road, rail or … Read Morebridge and then leave. It’s even better if you transfer the skills to africans and let them build future projects. Just don’t put us in a situation whereby our children are dominated by and indebted to the chinese for the rest of their lives.
There’s nothing for free! The Chinese must be doing this for a reason.”
T
o which I responded:
“Thanks for your thoughts.
Interesting subject indeed.
Good friends can and will make convincing arguments on both sides of this issue. While I welcome China’s assistance and aid, it is hard for me not to be a little skeptical about their true intentions.”
Do you have any thoughts on this article, or any others on this subject that you might have seen?
PS. The article refers to growing trade deficits between China and Ethiopia. A recent article from a Kenyan newspaper (http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1144003953&cid=14&j=&m=&d=) shows that this is not unique to Ethiopia, which raises the question about who is really benefitting from the Sino-African relationship.
Other:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1576831-1,00.htm
Jan 20 – Microfinance
Posted by: Global Business Center | January 16, 2009 | 11 Comments |Kate Cochran, Vice President, Unitus, will discuss the emerging scalable microfinance market in Kenya and other countries in East Africa.
under: Speaker discussion
Jan 13 – Arab Peninsula Business Overview
Posted by: Global Business Center | January 2, 2009 | 12 Comments |Nohl Martin Fouroohi, CEO and Founder, IgniteBiz, which focuses on bridging North American and MENASA (Middle East, North Africa, South Asia) businesses Plus Q&A with Abu Obeida Backhach, Eve MBA 2011 from the Middle East
under: Speaker discussion
