Africa Atlantic Axis (AAA program)

Africa Atlantic Axis (AAA) is the program for the development of African industry from countries located on the Atlantic coast or with close port access such as the DR Congo although rather located in Central Africa. This geographical location would facilitate trade with the two major consumer markets that are the EU and the USA. Financed as part of the development aid for Africa by international institutions and countries wishing to contribute, the modern and secure business parks will host the production tools of major European, American or non-Western brands and often local SMEs. International and open to global companies and investors, the plan is not specifically French, European, American or African. Non-condescending, it will meet the expectations of ambitious and impatient young African generations. About twenty African countries would be initially concerned, but many companies and job seekers from other countries would see opportunities offered to them within a dense network of companies. This process of industrial integration would eventually enable the creation of ecosystems. This level of activity would enable African states to equip themselves with vital infrastructure and see their standard of living rise considerably. By offering prospects for the future, the project would also promote regional stability. Africa Atlantic Axis (AAA) proposes a plan for the creation of sectoral activity parks (household appliances, computers, furniture, sports, toys, textile-clothing etc ...) which would be likely to significantly accelerate the economic development of the African continent while preserving it from the rampant colonization of China and its imports. Initially generalist, the clusters would then specialize at the pace of development. The zones of activity would meet precise sanitary and environmental requirements. Assistance with local recruitment and training as well as legal, tax and administrative assistance would facilitate the installation of foreign companies.Thus the often Western brands could transfer more serenely the previously Chinese manufacture. Many African engineers, often expatriates but wishing for the development of Africa, would enthusiastically welcome proposals for the creation of subcontracting joint ventures. These would collaborate with international brands within groupings that would become complete and efficient industrial ecosystems while initiating more African industrial independence. For example, why continue to manufacture most of our smartphones, tablets, computers or other technological products in China, if we consider that another way of managing the extraction and transformation of the rare earths needed to manufacture them is possible. China currently has a monopoly but nevertheless holds only 30% of the reserves under its soil.

The plan requires a provision of 10 to 12 billion euros to finance the main and peripheral infrastructures of the first 3 to 5 zones that would house the production of large global companies or smaller companies. These amounts, which would be allocated by international institutions for the development of Africa, would include the financing of the construction of essential road, rail, airport or port accesses, energy supply, telecommunications networks, road works and waste management, living areas, security means, housing, schools, medical centers, shops, etc... 1 or 2 new clusters of varying sizes could be created every 2 or 3 years.  Many Western consumers want more products to be manufactured in their respective countries but do not want to spend much more. Also, given the generally unsuitable Western production costs for competition dictated by globalization, the millions of consumer goods manufacturing jobs that have gone to China will not come back to the EU or the USA. It is preferable, based on equalization and cost-sharing mechanisms, to preserve and keep companies with even a small number of industrial jobs in Europe and the USA rather than see what remains of the manufacturing industry disappear in these countries. Moreover, the implementation of industrial development clusters would require the use of a multitude of European and American service companies that would accompany the economic change. The latter would offer many highly qualified jobs. Thus the program based on the efficiency of economic mechanisms and offering promising prospects for growth, could convince sectors of activity to leave the ground of a Chinese dictatorship that threatens the world, devotes its capital to predation and militarization to the detriment of the poorest Chinese. The objective is obviously not to transform Africa into a new workshop of the world but above all to promote the restoration or constitution of new global economic balances that will contribute to peace and democracy. Environmentalists opposed to nuclear or coal-fired power plants could only recognize the interest of an industrial model concerned with the environment, in which hydroelectric power would provide most of its electricity needs. Many companies are now thinking about reducing their production in China, which has a very negative image, and would accept to take up, with Africa, this pragmatic challenge of modernization which would also help to repair the unprecedented economic damage in the world. Sept. 28, 2020 by Francis Journot