Core Viewpoint - Africa is poised for significant growth opportunities driven by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is expected to enhance regional integration and boost demand for consumer goods, industrial products, and infrastructure [4][6]. Economic Overview - Africa's GDP growth from 2018 to 2023 has been stagnant at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.4%, matching global growth rates [5]. - The economic structure remains largely unchanged, with agriculture, industry, and services contributing 15%, 39%, and 46% to GDP respectively in 2023 [5]. - Africa's integration into the global value chain is low, with merchandise trade accounting for only 2.8% of global trade in 2022, down from 3.5% in 2012 [5]. Trade and Industry - AfCFTA has led to a CAGR of 11.8% in intra-African trade from 2021 to 2023, but intra-African trade still only accounts for 15% of total trade, significantly lower than Europe and Asia [6]. - The internal trade of Africa is characterized by a high proportion of intermediate and manufactured goods, which could foster industrial development and regional capacity integration [6]. - Africa's foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow in 2023 was only 4.0% of global FDI, indicating a need for improvement in attracting investment [20]. Resource Potential - Africa possesses vast mineral resources, holding approximately 8% of the world's oil reserves and over 90% of platinum group metals [7][41]. - The reliance on resource extraction can lead to economic vulnerabilities, as seen in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has become overly dependent on mining [49][50]. - Botswana serves as a positive example, successfully utilizing diamond revenues to diversify its economy and improve social welfare [52]. Infrastructure Challenges - Africa faces significant infrastructure deficits, with an estimated investment gap of $1.7 trillion by 2040, representing 1.2% of cumulative GDP [8][59]. - Transportation costs in Africa are high, accounting for about 40% of final goods prices, due to inadequate road networks and high logistics costs [8][63]. - The energy infrastructure is also lacking, with nearly half of the population lacking access to electricity, despite Africa having 60% of the world's solar resources [8][60]. China-Africa Relations - China's direct investment in Africa reached approximately $4 billion in 2023, accounting for 2.2% of China's total outbound investment and 7.6% of Africa's FDI [9][10]. - China is Africa's largest trading partner, with trade volume expected to reach about $295.6 billion in 2024, reflecting a growing economic relationship [10][37]. - The trade pattern continues to be characterized by Africa exporting primary products in exchange for manufactured goods from China [39].