Russians Discuss Increased Engagement With Africa

(Eurasia Review, Albany, 10 November 2021) Russia’s weak economic presence in Africa has become a thing of concern for some experts in the country and they wonder why the nation is not aggressive with this like its ally, China. Smaller countries such as Turkey is visibly broadening its economic influence and so are a number of Gulf States. In July 2021, participants at the Association of Economic Cooperation with African States (AECAS), established under the aegis of the Secretariat of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum (RAPF), agreed that lack of financial support was the major reason for this. The forum, which had in attendance some leading Russian companies and banks, discussed an effective system of financing projects and supporting investment in Africa. Nikita Gusakov, Head of the Russian Export Credit and Investment Insurance Agency (EXIAR), reiterated that Africa was a priority for the agency, outlining a number of deals that EXIAR has been involved in on the continent.