Posted on 05/06/2021 10:35:31 PM PDT by nickcarraway
As the epidemiological situation begins to stabilize through mass vaccination and building herd immunity, the 24th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is finally set to take place on June 2-5, 2021.
This unique Russian forum is expected to bring together politicians, corporate business directors and investors from different parts of the world.
In this interview by Kester Kenn Klomegah especially for potential African participants, chief executive officer of the Roscongress Foundation and head of the coordinating council under the secretariat of the Russia–Africa Partnership Forum (RAPF) Alexander Stuglev describes it as a unique platform for networking and getting acquainted with top Russian executives of leading companies and business associations. It thus helps in laying a firm foundation for further cooperation. Here are the interview excerpts:
Kester Kenn Klomegah (KKK): Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov noted that African issues are supposed to be included in the programme of the upcoming St Petersburg International Economic Forum. Can you kindly give us a roadmap of specific programmes and its significance for African participants coming to St Petersburg this June?
Alexander Stuglev (AS): First of all, I would like to note that the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, in its time, has become a sort of a gauge of the mounting interest in the development of Russia-African business cooperation: between 2015 and 2019 the number of forum participants from African countries grew five times. Every year since 2016, as part of the SPIEF business programme, we host a Russia-Africa roundtable, which has become a traditional meeting place for Russian and African business and government and in whose discussions the heads of African states, among others, took part many times.
This year, the African agenda will also play an important part in the Forum business programme. In the course of the scheduled Russia–Africa business dialogue we plan to discuss a wide range of our cooperation: food security; the Russian approach to solving healthcare problems in African countries, taking into account the economic aftermath of the pandemic; Russian investment and participation of our business in key infrastructure projects on the African continent. I invite our African colleagues to take the most active part in the upcoming Forum discussions.
KKK: African landscape is changing with more foreign players. In assessing the reality of developments and competition for geopolitical influence, what are your views? With this focus on Africa at the St Petersburg Forum, do you consider it as a gateway to reach the market of the African region?
AS: You are right, many countries are expressing interest in Africa today, but this is no surprise when you take into account the huge potential and opportunities of the African continent. I believe that major players will keep growing more active on the African scene and we should be ready for it. All in all, I have a positive attitude toward competition. I believe that in any line of business it helps growth and stimulates progress, the important thing is that it should be fair competition.
As for your question regarding the gateway to the African market, I believe that the key point here is regularity and systematic approach. St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is, undoubtedly, one of the most important stages in the development chain of the entire range of mutually beneficial Russia-Africa cooperation. Yet, it is important to realise that you cannot land in a foreign market immediately. There is a lot of work to be done beforehand in order to set mutually respectful and trustful relations, to learn the culture and so on.
Soviet Union was involved in Angolan Civil War...Along with Cubans...
Welcome to the early 1960s. Patrice Lumumba, Soviet surrogate in the Congo. Angola - Che Guevara
and Cuban/Soviet advisors and arms. The same for Mozambique to some extent. The same for Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde. Lots of influence in Ghana, using aging Communist Party members W.E. B. DuBois and his wife Shirley Graham DuBois as propaganda spearheads to Nkrumah.
Lots of Soviet influence and advisors/arms in Egypt, possibly Algeria, South Africa (ANC/SACP), SWAPO (SW Africa), possibly Libya, etc.
As Yogi Berra liked to say, “It’s deja vu all over again”.
just in time to share africa with their mutual friend Red China.
Unless the West is going to intervene it would be a largely positive influence.
Compare what China and what UN does.
UN brings sacks of flour, taken over by gangs using food to control the population, selling most of it to attract new gang members and buy armaments.
The French are basically intervene on part of the gangs when the government of the African country become too stable, to bring back chaos and fish in a murky water. Then then would intervene on part of the weaker gang and kill the stronger gang.
The results are total chaos and mayhem for everyone who aren’t a gangbanger.
The Russians are moving for the governments they think business-like, and take control other their power structures to limit blatant corruption, then killing all gangs without discrimination between sorts of them.
Guess why the Africans like the Russians more than UN and the French. That allows them to plan their lives without taking being robbed, raped and killed by gangs into considerations.
Then come the Chinese. A lot is being said about neo-slavery by the Chinese, but they actually bringing mines and factories. The Africans get tile floors, air conditioners big screen TVs in their huts, even the cheap Chinese automobiles.
That beats the sacks of flour and gang violence by a long shot, even if the Chinese are “racist”. I think the smarter of them are rather annoyed by the Western narrative of the “racist Chinese”. They like hard floors and indoor plumbing over “dignity” meaning squatting in squalor and getting killed by fellow Africans.
Kester Kenn Klomegah (KKK): Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov noted that African issues are supposed to be included in the programme of the upcoming St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.