Top official backs China's record in Africa

Before judging, consider what the Asian giant has already accomplished in the continent, the director of Kenya's development plan says

Those who criticize China's involvement in Africa's development would do well to keep in mind how the partnerships already have helped African nations achieve some of their key medium-term goals, says the man running Kenya's long-term development plan.

A number of years ago, as the old millennium became a new one, many countries were facing basic challenges and needed to accelerate progress.

"The agenda then was to expand the road networks and enable farmers to reach the markets. This was achieved and the (Kenyan) economy recorded 7 percent growth in 2007," says Gituro Wainaina, acting director-general of Kenya Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat. Vision 2030 outlines development of key infrastructure to move the economy into the middle-income bracket.

Wainaina says he thinks Kenya would have fallen short in meeting such targets if traditional funding sources alone had been involved. "We would still be on it," he says, adding that they provided only money and not technical expertise, which is in short supply. "China offers both the funds and labor. This is a unique and quite necessary combination."

Alluding to critics who call China a neocolonial power in Africa, Wainaina says: "China is a true friend and partner. Nothing else."

China is focused on growth, he says, which is a laudable and embraceable goal.

"You only have to audit the continent's growth pattern, before and after the colonial era. Africa started witnessing true and sustainable growth after China's entry because they are working cohesively with African governments," he says.

More opportunities were presented when the Chinese government announced a $60 billion fund during the Forum on China Africa Cooperation in December in Johannesburg, South Africa. "This initiative provides us with a huge opportunity to change our economies completely. People's lives will be changed," Wainaina says.

President Xi Jinping said in Johannesburg: "China has decided to provide a total of $60 billion of funding support. It includes $5 billion in grants and zero-interest loans and $35 billion in loans of a concessional nature with more favorable terms and an export credit line."

Wainaina says this partnership can be sustainable if projects have contracts that emphasize Africa's needs. "This includes local employment opportunities and technology transfer. It will ensure that there is continuity when Chinese firms complete and leave," he says.

He believes that history has buoyed Kenya's confidence in Chinese firms, including heavy Chinese involvement in such projects as the $3.2 billion Nairobi-Mombasa Standard Gauge Railway to be completed this year, the $26 billion Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport corridor, expansion of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and modernization of Mombasa port.

Such projects have converged well with the Belt and Road Initiative spearheaded by China that, among other things, earmarks the port of Mombasa as a key African hub. The initiative would connect China with Europe, Africa and other areas by means of investment and infrastructure along the traditional Silk Road routes.

"These present immense opportunities to Chinese firms," Wainaina says.

While noting that the Chinese firms have a leg-up in clinching government contracts, he discounts the notion that the Asian giant steers Africa's development agenda. "I would say that China is clearly in sync with the national aspirations and development goals of Africa, and has therefore aligned its vision appropriately."

To achieve mutual and sustainable growth, he advises African countries to conceive goals that are achievable and then engage China as a partner. Audits should be carried out often to revise goals while re-engaging China in the areas of need.

"Chinese support should be predetermined by the African countries for development to be realized both ways," he advises.

When Liu Xianfa, the Chinese ambassador to Kenya, addressed the Vision 2030 board on China and the implementation of the development plan, an important lesson taken away from the meeting is the need to translate the roadmap "into Chinese", Wainaina says. By that he means designing the language and tone of the program to be easily understood by Chinese investors. "If this is replicated by other African governments, it will open up the continent to increased direct investments from China."

Wainaina adds, however, that the relationship is complex, with many levels, and at times there are disagreements. He says there has been some controversy about the involvement of Chinese entrepreneurs in small businesses. He emphasizes the need for strong domestic policies and regulations to defuse such conflicts by encouraging partnerships.

But being a strong believer in the free market, he says laws should not be used to protect local content at the expense of quality.

"While protecting the market from imports, quality should be adhered to by local producers. Otherwise consumers will be unhappy. It is equally important to have quality goods," he says.

He applauds Ethiopia for enforcing high taxes on imports while encouraging quality manufacturing of leather goods, and believes other African countries could use this example.

Wainaina blames business people who import substandard goods for tarnishing China's image. China, he says, "has many ISO-certified companies as well as uncertified companies. It is a matter of choice."

He says he thinks the partnership between Kenya and China will continue to be government-led.

"We have to appreciate China's form of governance, which is strong compared with its private sector. That is what has delivered for China and it's good for them. Remember, their state-owned enterprises have encompassed good business practices, hence making them quite amiable. I still see a lot of inclination of the Kenyan government to work with the Chinese government. We have to find a way of working under these mechanisms."

lucymorangi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 03/25/2016 page32)