Post #64

Goals outlined: projects that Russia can conduct in Africa have been identified Following the working visit of the AREA delegation to the southern African countries (South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe), the Executive Secretary of the AREA Board Andrey Gromov and the member of the Association's Board, Director of IBACYulia Berg announced the key conclusions and spoke about the most promising projects in the region. At one of the round tables of the XII Annual International Forum "Eurasian Economic Perspective", Yulia Berg emphasized that energy security is a key factor in the development of not only production and industry, but also the overall quality of life. She noted that this is especially relevant for remote regions, where access to digital technologies allows for opportunities for education and professional self-realization. According to Berg, the strategic plans of many African countries mainly focus on the transition from trading in raw materials to trading in finished products with added value. "This is what can ensure qualitative changes in the economies of these countries and allow African countries to dictate the terms of the game themselves, not selling raw materials, but manufacturing the final product and bringing it to market at a fair price," the expert added. The IBAC Director noted that such a reformatting will create jobs, allow trade to develop within the continent and take foreign economic relations to a new level. "The development of these areas is impossible without a solid and sustainable base in terms of energy and in terms of stable electricity supply for production and households," Berg said. At the moment, many difficulties come down to the need for huge investments either for modernization or for the creation of new power grids, said Andrei Gromov. He is convinced that African countries will not be able to cope alone, and there are opportunities for the participation of both Russian engineers and Chinese manufacturers, since China is the most active manufacturer of equipment, including for energy projects. "At the same time, Russia has vast experience in comprehensive development of territories. "The Soviet experience, tested and proven, which has proven its sustainability over the decades, of creating not just energy systems, but complex solutions that allow combining energy generation, production, and social infrastructure into a single system. Russia, taking on the role of developer and moderator of projects with the participation of China and African countries, will ensure a sustainable structure that, on the one hand, will stimulate collective development, and on the other hand, will be mutually beneficial," Gromov summed up. #AREA#Africa#Russia#Gromov#Berg