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20 African Countries With The Most Chinese Investment Projects

20 African Countries With The Most Chinese Investment Projects

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Exponential growth of China’s investments in Africa has led to changing perceptions about China in Africa. U.S.-based research think tank Brookings used data from China to compile a list of Chinese investment projects in Africa, debunking popular myths about its engagement there. First, according to the most recent data, China accounts for about 3 percent of direct investment in Africa. That’s relatively little, Brookings says. The second myth: Chinese investment is only attracted to natural resource wealth. It’s true, but no more so than Western investment. Third, Chinese investment is indifferent to rights or rule of law, whereas Western investment tends to stay away from the poor-governance environments. In fact Chinese investment is equally distributed between good and poor-governance environments.

The Chinese database used for this report gives a more accurate picture of what small- and medium-sized private Chinese firms are doing in Africa than large, state-owned ones.

Cameroon Prime Minister Philemon Yang and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang inspect Chinese honour guard, June 18, 2015. Photo: Wang Zhao/Getty Images
Cameroon Prime Minister Philemon Yang and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang inspect Chinese honour guard, June 18, 2015. Photo: Wang Zhao/Getty Images

20. Cameroon

Number of projects: 60

Number of firms: 28

China in Africa
Statue at the entrance to Grand Baie Bazaar Chinese market, Mauritius. Photo: Florence Guillemain, Getty Images

19. Mauritius

Number of projects: 65

Number of firms: 40

China in Namibia Africa
Chinese Navy fleet visits Namibia, xinhuanet

18. Namibia

Number of projects: 66

Number of firms: 30

China in Africa Mali
Malian footballer Seydou Keita signs autographs for Chinese fans. Photo: Getty Images

17. Mali

Number of projects: 68

Number of firms: 33

chinaafricaproject.com
chinaafricaproject.com

16. Gabon

Number of projects: 71

Number of firms: 23

china in africa uganda
Chinese hardware trader in Kampala. Photo: Stuart Price/Getty Images

15. Uganda

Number of projects: 89

Number of firms: 45

china in africa mozambique
english.cri.cn

14. Mozambique

Number of projects: 94

Number of firms: 41

china in africa algeria
An Algerian is treated with traditional Chinese therapy in Algiers. english.sina.com

13. Algeria

Number of projects: 123

Number of firms: 75

china in africa kenya
China will be developing a 50-megawatt solar power plant in Kenya. greentechlead

12. Kenya

Number of projects: 137

Number of firms: 71

A PetroChina employee teaches Chinese to Sudanese coworkers at an oil exploration site. transatlanticacademy.org
A PetroChina employee teaches Chinese to Sudanese coworkers at an oil exploration site. transatlanticacademy.org

11. Sudan

Number of projects: 148

Number of firms: 78

china in africa tanzania
The dragon dance is performed during a Lunar New Year celebration in Tanzania. africa.chinadaily.com.cn

10. Tanzania

Number of projects: 149

Number of firms: 85

china in africa zimbabwe
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe gets a 21-gun salute during a visit with China’s President Xi Jinping
dailymail.co.uk

9. Zimbabwe

Number of projects: 167

Number of firms: 68

China in africa angola
China helps build infrastructure in Angola in exchange for oil. un.org

8. Angola

Number of projects: 189

Number of firms: 80

china in africa ghana
Ghanian miners and Chinese workers, china-africa-reporting.co.za

7. Ghana

Number of projects: 192

Number of firms: 90

china in africa DRC
Chinese agriculturist Yu Daohong teaches Congolese a technique of planting vegetables. www.gov.cn

6. Congo (DRC)

Number of projects: 193

Number of firms: 80

china in africa egypt
chinatalkingpoints.com

5. Egypt

Number of projects: 197

Number of firms: 99

china in africa ethiopia
wardheernews.com

4. Ethiopia

Number of projects: 255

Number of firms: 114

china in africa zambia

Chinese and one Zambian workers at the construction site of the Ndola National Stadium in Ndola, Zambia. today.com

3. Zambia

Number of projects: 273

Number of firms: 125

china in africa south africa
Chinese performers at South Africa’s National Arts Festival. whatsontianjin.com

2. South Africa

Number of projects: 280

Number of firms: 152

china in africa nigeria
Chinese-funded railway in Nigeria. Youtube/CCTV

1. Nigeria

Number of projects: 404

Number of firms: 240

Sources: Brookings, MacauHub, Brookings.

This AFKInsider article was first published  Aug. 25, 2015.