Date Of Article: 6/12/2002
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African diplomats form economic group on Roc
By: by Steven Nhlane in Taiwan, the Republic of China
African ambassadors and representatives of the Republic of China have formed a front aimed at strengthening economic cooperation between the African diplomatic allies of Taiwan and RoC with a view to enhancing economic development of the African countries. A working document made available to The Nation said the grouping, called African Taiwan Economic Forum (ATEF) and being chaired by Malawi ambassador to RoC Eunice Kazembe, has, among its objectives, to increase trade flows between RoC and its African allies and increase investment initially mainly from Taiwan to Africa. The grouping also aims to increase understanding of cultures, interests, values of each of the peoples through greater exchanges and interaction e.g. in tourism; deepen cooperation in technology and skills transfer in health, education; and to increase visibility of the RoC in African and the international community. Kazembe said in an interview the grouping, which brings together all the 10 African countries with ties with RoC, would give the African governments more impetus and strategic advantage in their efforts to increase trade and investment to Africa from RoC. “After all, regional economic groupings are the trend now worldwide,’’ said Kazembe, Malawi’ first ambassador to RoC, adding South American countries have a similar arrangement in Taiwan. The other countries in African with ties with RoC include Swaziland, Senegal, South Africa, Liberia, Sao Tome and Principe, Chad, the Gambia and Burkina Faso. Malawi, which established diplomatic relations with the RoC government in 1966, is Taiwan’s oldest African ally. This small but economically well off island country of 23 million has a per capita GNP of US$14,000. Its biggest trading partner is the US where it exports about 25 percent of its products, followed by countries in the Asian-Pacific region. In addition, the US, Singapore and Hong Kong, in that order, are now the most appealing destinations for RoC investors. RoC Foreign Affairs minister Eugene Chien, according to the working document on the grouping, reaffirmed his full support of the ATEF initiative. He said as a country which has developed within a short period of time, RoC is in a unique position to contribute to economic development of African countries through its experience. RoC President Chen-Hsui Bian is expected to visit four of its African allies, including Malawi, from early next month, a tour dubbed as a major undertaking by the RoC government and media.
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