Nearly every country in Africa relies most heavily on trade and export revenue from Europe. A CCTV Africa report noted that while an new economic partnership agreement regarding trade is in the works, stipulations for various African regions would have to be considered. In addition, a ratification process — which would outline political unification — could take months.

“Given the fact that Europe itself is a very slow growth area, European businesses are looking for regions where growth is still stronger,” Eurozone economist Peter Vanden Houte told CCTV Africa.

“What we see now is with strong growth over the last five years, Africa has become again on the radar screens of European business leaders.”