Brazil in Africa

 

In collaboration with the Corporate Council on Africa, AS/COA hosted a panel that examined the growing economic and political relationship between Brazil and Africa, regions with historic and cultural ties. Panelists expressed optimism about Brazil’s role in fostering development and building technical capacity in African countries. Council of the Americas Vice President Eric Farnsworth said, “The idea of South-South cooperation, for so long little more than an aspiration, is finally here, and it is remaking the world.”

 

 

Trade between Brazil and Africa increased dramatically in the past decade. Susan Carrillo, World Bank senior specialist with the capacity development and partnership units, noted that between 2000 and 2010, Brazilian trade with sub-Saharan Africa jumped from $4 billion to $20 billion. She added that Brazilian firms are now operating in 21 African countries. Brazil is investing heavily in African economies, with a focus on natural resources such as gas, minerals, and oil. Del Renigar, senior counsel for global government affairs and policy at GE, discussed the private sector’s role in facilitating the growing trade and investment relationship between Brazil and Africa. “We are the beams and cables that build the bridge,” he said.

 

Secretary Filipe Nasser of the Brazilian embassy highlighted the growing political relationship between Brazil and Africa. Former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s foreign policy in Africa continued under President Dilma Rousseff, who visited Angola, Mozambique, and South Africa just 10 months into office. Brazil has 37 embassies on the African continent, and African countries opened 33 embassies in Brazil, giving Brazil the greatest number of African embassies of any Latin American country. In addition, Brazil promoted multilateral cooperation by encouraging the formation of the Africa-South America Summit.

 

Nasser cited three motives for Brazil’s engagement with Africa. First, Brazil aims to “globalize [its] diplomatic network and turn Brazil into a global player for good,” he said. Engaging the developing world is a crucial part of Brazil’s strategy to play a larger role on the international stage. Second, there is a strong cultural and historic affinity between Brazil and Africa; approximately half of Brazil’s population is of African descent, and cross-cultural exchanges influenced food, music, religion, and sports on both sides of the Atlantic. In fact, Carrillo noted, the two regions were physically linked two million years ago, and the flow of ideas and goods dates back to the sixteenth century. Finally, Brazil’s interests in Africa lie in opportunities for trade and investment in a growing market.

 

 

Nasser observed that Brazil’s commercial ties with Africa helped Brazil emerge from the 2008 economic crisis more quickly than other countries. Carrillo detailed Brazil’s extensive development programs aimed at agricultural productivity, health, energy, and poverty alleviation. In 2010, 60 percent of Brazil’s development resources went to Africa. Brazil has also sought to transfer technology used in its own industries, such as cotton and biofuel production.

 

Carrillo applauded Brazil’s avoidance of direct transfers of money and conditionality and commended its focus on structural projects. Renigar said GE has been involved in enabling technology transfers between the two regions by partnering with Brazilian firms such as Petrobras and Vale in both Africa and Brazil. “Brazil’s successes are admired by Africa,” Carrillo said. “Africa wants Brazilian technology and knowledge.”

 

While panelists were optimistic about the future of Brazil-Africa cooperation, they cautioned that obstacles remain. Carrillo identified several areas that need to be addressed. There is a significant lack of knowledge about Africa in Brazil, and vice versa. There is inadequate air and maritime transport between the two regions; few direct flights connect Brazil and Africa. Moreover, Africa lacks adequate infrastructure; three-quarters of the population does not have access to electricity. Carrillo highlighted the need for both public and private sector engagement in overcoming Africa’s infrastructure deficit.

 

Nasser explained that Brazil’s ambitious Africa policy is a long-term commitment. Brazil increased engagement not only with its traditional Lusophone partners, but also with countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Tanzania. In addition, Brazil established a permanent mission to the African Union. “Brazil-Africa relations are a work in progress. Brazil should, could, and will do more with Africa in the years to come,” said Nasser.