Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “The Next Factory of the World: How Chinese Investment Is Reshaping Africa” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

The Next Factory of the World: How Chinese Investment Is Reshaping Africa

Irene Yuan Sun

3.98 · Rating details · 234 ratings · 36 reviews

A Best Business Book of 2017 -- The Financial Times

China is now the biggest foreign player in Africa.

It's Africa's largest trade partner, the largest infrastructure financier, and the fastest-growing source of foreign direct investment. Chinese entrepreneurs are flooding into the continent, investing in long-term assets such as factories and heavy equipment.

Considering

A Best Business Book of 2017 -- The Financial Times

China is now the biggest foreign player in Africa.

Considering Africa's difficult history of colonialism, one might suspect that China's activity there is another instance of a foreign power exploiting resources. But as author Irene Yuan Sun vividly shows in this remarkable book, it is really a story about resilient Chinese entrepreneurs building in Africa what they so recently learned to build in China--a global manufacturing powerhouse.

The fact that China sees Africa not for its poverty but for its potential wealth is a striking departure from the attitude of the West, particularly that of the United States. Despite fifty years of Western aid programs, Africa still has more people living in extreme poverty than any other region in the world. Those who are serious about raising living standards across the continent know that another strategy is needed.

Chinese investment gives rise to a tantalizing possibility: that Africa can industrialize in the coming generation. With a manufacturing-led transformation, Africa would be following in the footsteps of the United States in the nineteenth century, Japan in the early twentieth, and the Asian Tigers in the late twentieth. Many may consider this an old-fashioned way to develop, but as Sun argues, it's the only one that's proven to raise living standards across entire societies in a lasting way. And with every new Chinese factory boss setting up machinery and hiring African workers--and managers--that possibility becomes more real for Africa.

With fascinating and moving human stories along with incisive business and economic analysis, The Next Factory of the World will make you rethink both China's role in the world and Africa's future in the globalized economy.

...more

Get A Copy

Kindle Edition, 224 pages

Published October 17th 2017 by Harvard Business Review Press

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Next Factory of the World, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about The Next Factory of the World

Lists with This Book

Thinking in Systems by Donella H. Meadows

Economics is for women

21 books — 2 voters

Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder

International development

204 books — 215 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 3.98 ·

Rating details

· 234 ratings · 36 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of The Next Factory of the World: How Chinese Investment Is Reshaping Africa

Aug 09, 2017 Quintin Zimmermann rated it it was ok

Irene Sun seeks to challenge our perceptions of China exploiting Africa’s natural resources for its own industrial needs. To do so, she draws upon her one-on-one interviews with Chinese businessmen, sometimes over a cup of quaint Chinese tea, in Nigeria, Lesotho, Kenya and Ethiopia and taking a gracious tour of their factories.

The danger of this anecdotal evidence is that it is collected in an informal, arbitrary manner and relies heavily on personal testimony that is by its very nature unreliab ...more

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

Sep 29, 2017 Clare O'Beara rated it it was amazing

Shelves: non-fiction, asia-fact, economics, international-development, africa-fact

Fascinating reading about societies and development economics in one book.
A Chinese girl who sat in a car for the first time aged six, and was later reared in America, visited hundreds of Chinese run factories across Africa. Some are manufacturing for export. Some are manufacturing ceramic tiles for the wealthier African needs. These factories are not all wonderful places to work. But by seeking an extra two percent profit on their investment, the owners are providing jobs. These manufacturing ...more

flag 7 likes · Like · see review

Sep 03, 2018 Toyin A rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Usually when I read books that aim to discuss Africa as the next continent in line for whatever, I roll my eyes. Many of the well meaning writers who embark on such expedition sit in their Western bubble and think what worked for Europe or North America should work in Africa.
.
Irene's book is refreshingly different. Not only has she researched the economic history of major African Industralised countries, she has lived in a few and visited many other for research purposes. She truly has a global ...more

flag 5 likes · Like · see review

May 11, 2019 Mehrsa rated it really liked it

Really interesting book about how Chinese businessmen are building factories in Africa. In the process, the businessmen are getting rich and Africa is being developed. Sun claims that this was the route through which China developed and she explains why this is likely to work for Africa as well. It's an interesting book and I learned a lot. One thing Sun does not discuss is the environmental impact of all of this industrialization on a region that is already experiencing the hardest edges of cli ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Oct 02, 2017 Noorilhuda rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley, politics-war-god-biz-development

As a book, it's a good initiative, for its optimistic portrayal of one giant country's business ventures in one giant continent but my problems with the book are aplenty: the author uses Nigeria and Africa's economics almost interchangeably - Nigeria is a a country, Africa is a continent. The experience of a part cannot and is not the experience and reality of the whole. After half of the book has gone through Chinese textile businessmen in Nigeria and their local workers (even though no definit As a book, it's a good initiative, for its optimistic portrayal of one giant country's business ventures in one giant continent but my problems with the book are aplenty: the author uses Nigeria and Africa's economics almost interchangeably - Nigeria is a a country, Africa is a continent. The experience of a part cannot and is not the experience and reality of the whole. After half of the book has gone through Chinese textile businessmen in Nigeria and their local workers (even though no definite statistic is given on Chinese investment versus that of other countries in Nigeria itself), mid-way in the book Kenya comes about and that too as an example of how new ideas are being turned into manufactured goods to China ('8% of Africa's exports to China versus 30% of Chinese products to Africa are manufactured goods') - is that different from other goods sent to and from other countries?

I also do not see how the experience of a Nigerian factory worker is so drastically different than that of any other factory worker in any other poverty-stricken country where literacy and job options are limited, nor how the impact of Chinese presence is any different than that of any other foreigner who has opened an avenue for jobs, profits and circling of money locally.

Nor how desired actions for sustained growth are any different in any African country versus any other country in the world.

And I fail to see China's responsibility in eradicating HIV/AIDS in Namibia or anywhere else. China is not responsible for the 'human and social needs' of Africa - and the author does not say how much, if at all, China has donated to the $30billion Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB, malaria and GAVI in Africa, but the book does mention dangers of following China and India as examples for nurturing pharma industry because their internal policies made drugs available locally, cheaply, though not of a high quality and stopped entry of foreign drugs that could've saved lives. What I did not understand is how a Chinese businessman planning a pharma plant in Ethiopia significant - he thought he'd make money, Glaxo-Kline obviously thought they won't.

Also, for such a resource-rich continent like Africa, all that the book shows is good honest hard-working Chinese interest in entrepreneurship. The political dimension of economic expansion by countries like U.S., Russia, China, etc. and the historical relationship different African countries have had with such and other 'ruling' countries like UK, France, Italy, Portugal etc. is not given or the changing global dynamics. What has happened in Sudan (and is now happening in South Sudan) is the off-shoot of vested foreign interests in local resources. War created locally as a means to an end (an unstable country is better for some businesses.) A stricken country is not good for factories though it may very well be the only way to grab oil, diamonds, gold.

How is American or EU or UK industrial investment in various African countries different from that of Chinese? Are more average Chinese seeking Africa as a dream continent than Americans or Britishers? What about nationals from other under-developed or developing countries? After all, the author says that the Chinese presence in Nigeria is not like that of a colonial power.

And what also remains unexplored is the impact, if any, Chinese businessmen / workers have on the local culture and discourse, apart from providing money and opportunity for the locals.

The biggest surprise? That Chinese (in China) did not own TV or cars in 80s! And that (irony of ironies) China used to be poorer than Kenya, Lesotho and Nigeria. ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Sep 10, 2017 Consuelo Murgia rated it really liked it

AN INTERESTING INSIGHT INTO CHINESE FACTORIES IN AFRICA

This is my first NetGalley review and I’m really excited about it! This website gives you the chance to apply for reading ebooks for free before they are published so that publishers and authors can receive early feedbacks. I applied for The Next Factory of the World: How Chinese Investment Is Reshaping Africa by Irene Yuan Sun and I was really delighted to find out that my request had been accepted!

I chose this book because I had already h ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 07, 2019 Luba rated it it was ok

I was curious about China’s influence in Africa, so decided to read the book. The interviews with Chinese factory owners are well written and interesting. The book’s key conclusion, however, is shallow and not well researched. The author claims that the industrialization leads to prosperity citing the examples of Great Britain, Japan and South Korea. She doesn’t explain, however, why industrialization of Soviet Union back in 1930 didn’t lead to prosperity. Moreover, it caused great suffering and ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 14, 2017 Kyle rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I requested this book because I found the topic intriguing. After reading the book, I still find the topic intriguing, yet I feel that the author could have done more to illustrate all sides of the development. I am going to follow along with the progress mentioned in this book to see if the title comes to fruition, or if China will continue to profit from the endeavor with minimal positive impact for Africans.

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 18, 2019 Christine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned-ebook

This was such and enjoyable read and a fascinating book.

I’ve come to realize recently that for me, when it comes to learning new things there is a certain value to sticking with what you know. In the case of this book, I was already quite familiar with manufacturing (industrial and consumer) with China and Chinese manufacturing, but I know practically nothing about Africa (even broadly as a continent, let alone individual countries). Based on the knowledge that I already have, I found that Iren This was such and enjoyable read and a fascinating book.

I’ve come to realize recently that for me, when it comes to learning new things there is a certain value to sticking with what you know. In the case of this book, I was already quite familiar with manufacturing (industrial and consumer) with China and Chinese manufacturing, but I know practically nothing about Africa (even broadly as a continent, let alone individual countries). Based on the knowledge that I already have, I found that Irene Sun’s words resonated with me and I found that I had the same knowledge and impressions as her on the topics with which I am familiar. This made it very easy to absorb the new information she presented and integrate it into my understanding of these topics, and presented and exciting backdrop for me to learn about the recent history of Africa and its relations with the rest of the world.

What I especially love about this book is that Irene Sun really grapples with nuance in a way that you rarely see in a book that is as accessible as this one. In the introduction, she makes a juxtaposition of the altruistic work that she does as a school teacher in Africa, and the many Chinese businesspeople in Africa who are “pure capitalist, with seemingly little regard for the welfare or rights of locals”. Which one of them was making a difference for Africa, if he is creating jobs and she is teaching children skills that are not really relevant to present-day life in Africa?

Later in the book, she discussed in depth how the generosity of global donors and pharmaceutical companies has actually doomed African pharmaceutical manufacturers and in fact made it harder for African nations to respond to new emerging health crises, such as the recent Ebola crisis. She says “we want simple stories, with pure heroes and pure villains, and our minds rebel at the notion of bad outcomes arising from good deeds. This is not a simple story. Both the goodness and the fallout are real.” She talks about the “gut-wrenching trade-offs” that China and India have made in the past in order to bring themselves into the good position that they enjoy today in pharmaceutical development.

She addresses the harm that happens when Western donor systems bypass local institutions by undermining the trust that citizens have in those systems. She talks about the real challenges that citizen have when they try to start companies of their own, and the incredible power that both national institutions and global agreements can have in shaping the present and the future of industry and jobs in a particular country. She discusses issues of race, gender, and the environment.

I have been very lucky to be able to discuss with my Chinese colleagues about the enormous changes that have occurred over their lifetime, and I marvel regularly about the fact that during their lifetimes they have experienced and thrived in an environment with such an incredibly rapid pace of change, in almost every aspect of their lives. I thought of my discussions over the last year when Irene Sun wrote “employment of the sort that factories bring is not a questions simply of economics, but also of sociology, psychology, politics, values, and power. Factories in developing countries tend to hire workers who are encountering formal employment outside the home for the first time, which unleashes a torrent of change. People will be forced to move, children will be brought up differently, social norms will shift, power will change hands. There are no guarantees that this will occur smoothly or well - in fact, the lessons of history suggest the opposite. And yet, there is hope mixed in with the worry. People adapt. Learn new skills, provide for their families, invent new futures, perhaps find voices they didn’t know they had.”

I found this book to be inspiring, optimistic, but seemingly totally grounded in reality. I am sincerely looking forward to seeing the future of Africa, and reading more from this very talented individual and author. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Apr 29, 2020 Bondi Bilala rated it really liked it

I admire Sun’s writing style in that she relies on informal interviews to tell a story. Sun tried to remain unbiased but failed in some places as she almost painted China as Africa’s knight in shining armor. There are some opinions opened to disagreement when she made a point about China being Africa’s best chances for development and not Western development programs.

She starts the book with a personal experience of how she thought she could make a difference in Africa through education. However ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 09, 2019 Tosin Adeoti rated it liked it

Yesterday night, I finished Irene's Sun's "The Next Factory of the World - How Chinese Investment is Reshaping Africa".

It is a book about how the Chinese are working alongside African businessmen, climbers, dreamers and every day citizen to change the economic landscape of the continent. It's a book of hope on how Africa can benefit from the recent success of China in creating enduring factories for the benefit of Africa and the world.

Unlike what a lot of people think, an overwhelming number of ...more

flag Like · see review

Apr 24, 2019 Bouke rated it really liked it

This book is a series of profiles on various characters that are involved with the progression of industrialization in various African countries, spurred on by Chinese entrepreneurs.

There are a couple key points the author wants to make:

1. Industrialization in east Asia has been a chain reaction, with Japanese factory workers becoming factory owners in Taiwan, workers in Taiwan becoming owners in China, and now former factory workers in China opening factories in Africa. In each step the worker This book is a series of profiles on various characters that are involved with the progression of industrialization in various African countries, spurred on by Chinese entrepreneurs.

There are a couple key points the author wants to make:

1. Industrialization in east Asia has been a chain reaction, with Japanese factory workers becoming factory owners in Taiwan, workers in Taiwan becoming owners in China, and now former factory workers in China opening factories in Africa. In each step the workers in the various countries started out very poor, and through industrialization their standard of living and social outcomes improved drastically.
2. Industrialization has a very profound impact on the social norms and culture of a society. Workers in newly industrialized countries have been complaining about the ruthlessness of the clock since the dawn of industrialization, and factory owners have been complaining about the ‘laziness’ of workers since forever too. No group of people in inherently lazy, industrialization molds everyone into productive cogs of the machine.
Another example of shifting social norms is women in Lesotho. It used to be the case that many women would be dependent on men who would go work in mines in South Africa. Now some of them can earn their own living working in garment factories. This changes the nature of relationships in society in a big way.
3. Some Chinese entrepreneurs play it really dirty. There have been cases of competitors’ factories mysteriously burning down, machines that were outlawed in China because of poor environmental qualities being deployed in Nigeria, and bribery. To develop strong labor and environmental protection in these countries will take time, and damage will be done in the mean time.

We will have to see what actually happens over the coming decades. I really hope Africa will be able to shed its legacy of being seen as backward and hopeless, and at the same time I hope it can develop without destroying the environment. Time will tell. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Aug 20, 2018 Jamie rated it liked it

Basic premise:
• Chinese factories in Africa will create broad-based prosperity for Africans and usher in the next phase of global growth for a large swath of the Chinese economy. Per the flying geese theory, a wave of Japanese entrepreneurs spawned a wave of Taiwanese entrepreneurs, who spawned a wave of Chinese ones, and it is the Chinese entrepreneurs that will spawn the wave of African entrepreneurs. Africa has the potential to become China’s successor as the next Factory of the World. Racis Basic premise:
• Chinese factories in Africa will create broad-based prosperity for Africans and usher in the next phase of global growth for a large swath of the Chinese economy. Per the flying geese theory, a wave of Japanese entrepreneurs spawned a wave of Taiwanese entrepreneurs, who spawned a wave of Chinese ones, and it is the Chinese entrepreneurs that will spawn the wave of African entrepreneurs. Africa has the potential to become China’s successor as the next Factory of the World. Racist views of factory owners, Chinese in particular, towards African workers are acknowledged, though this tension is framed more broadly as a symptom of industrialization and differences in culture as noted across history. To avoid enclaved communities as noted across Indian Kenyans and Lebanese Ivorians, Africans and Chinese will need to focus on trust-based relationships and integration.

Key points of contention:
1. The Western development community’s focus on strengthening governance (i.e. training government officials, fellowships, monitoring and accountability systems) is counter-productive, by inhibiting industrialization. History has shown in the US, China and India that it is better to let industrialization lead to excesses that eventually create the political and social pressures for regulation and reform. Foreigners should instead focus on how to make conditions merely “good enough,” bootstrapping development by pivoting towards various local partners and adjusting accordingly, rather than trying to fix a system. What is key is that donors don’t bypass local institutions, which only erodes the public’s trust and siphon’s off valuable talent. It is important to let countries “muddle through,” to experiment, adapt institutions and make up regulations as they go along.
2. The current global health strategy of sourcing for instance the lowest vaccines from India is undermining Africa’s pharmaceutical industry, by trapping it in a state of perpetual infancy. By relying on foreign drug makers, there will continue to be a shortfall in how much research Africa’s diseases get and how quickly any new disease outbreak can be dealt with. China and India both rejected the imperative to save as many lives as quickly as possible, by balancing social and economic goals and initially being tolerant of poor quality standards – as a consequence they were able to provide jobs, nurture domestic markets and save lives, eventually shifting to a greater focus on quality requirements and industry consolidation.

Interesting statistics:
• Across a sample size of 1,000 Chinese firms employing more than 300,000 people, 89% of employees were Africans. All but 2 of the 170 employees of Sino-Ethiop Associate Africa PLC are Ethiopian, which is the first and only gel capsule manufacturing plant in sub-Saharan Africa, and accounts for almost all of Ethiopia’s pharmaceutical exports
...more

flag Like · see review

Dec 18, 2017 Darren rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

It is no secret that manufacturing in China is no longer the cheap utopia that many once found it to be. China is also experiencing pressures and internal economic effects and in the future it may need to change. China has been extending its ‘territorial reach’ and Africa is an area of great interest for it, with a lot of Chinese investment taking place, both official and private. Africa may be the next (Chinese) factory space for the world.

This was a fascinating, well-researched and carefully p It is no secret that manufacturing in China is no longer the cheap utopia that many once found it to be. China is also experiencing pressures and internal economic effects and in the future it may need to change. China has been extending its ‘territorial reach’ and Africa is an area of great interest for it, with a lot of Chinese investment taking place, both official and private. Africa may be the next (Chinese) factory space for the world.

This was a fascinating, well-researched and carefully presented book that provided a total look at the situation-to-date, noting how Chinese companies have been establishing a foothold in Africa. It is not necessarily a new event either, although activity is ramping up today. China’s interest in China is different to that the west has held in the past, seeking to do more than just development aid. This has led to some criticism, suggesting that China is just another asset-stripper and exploiter of the continent and its resources, albeit under a different guise. The author and her research begs to differ. The partnership may not be symmetric, but there is real scope that Africa is the next powerhouse-in-waiting, aided and abetted by Chinese money and know-how.

The book is split into two halves. The first is the realities and situation so far. The latter is the possibilities that can be generated and intimation of what may occur. Credit must be given to the author for this book and its ability to service different audiences at the same time. To a general reader it is an engaging read for the broader story and its individual components. For the focussed economist or business executive it gives all the foregoing and a lot of nuanced, detailed information as well. It is not a hagiography or fluffy PR book and extensive notes for further research and reading are provided for those who want it. The less-attractive side of this development is not being hidden, nor excused. Things may, however, get better with time and experience.

It is very feasible that even in my lifetime there will be some major tectonic shifts in economic power. In the past decade or so we may have only had a taste of what is to come. May we see one-time leaders being – eventually – being ‘developed’ by those who once did all the ‘developing’? Interesting times can lay ahead, that is for sure.

Christmas is coming. If you don’t have a direct need for this book and its intelligence today, why not treat yourself for a bit of holiday-time reading, as it will be a lot more informative and engaging than a lot of the stuff that may appear on the small screen! ...more

flag Like · see review

Oct 29, 2017 Kerry rated it it was amazing

This book is a remarkably thoughtful, well-written, nuanced account of the most promising economic force that will define the next generation of manufacturing. It effectively narrates the phenomenon of Chinese private investment in the African continent with a combination of data, on-the ground interviews and economic development theory. From textile plants in Lesotho to industrial complexes in Nigeria, the author manages to color in the dark crevices of forgotten links in the global supply chai ...more

flag Like · see review

Jul 03, 2019 David Mihalyi rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019

An interesting account on a hot but under-researched topic. I really enjoyed the insight from field work and interviews with workers and owners of factories across the continent. It gave an eye opening account on the range of Chinese businesses in Africa, their story, their business models and operational difficulties. But though they are clearly significant, it needs more proving than what the book does to demonstrate that these factories will be one of the leading forces transforming the conti ...more

flag Like · see review

Nov 08, 2020 Ilham rated it really liked it

Interesting look into Chinese investment in Africa, featuring some individual stories of Chinese factory owners and also profiles of certain market --- textiles in Nigeria, pharmaceuticals in Kenya, foreign exports from Lesotho, among others.

Good primer and thoughts into industrialization and the emerging role of China, though it can be a little skewed in some areas, ignoring aspects of exploitation and disproportionate benefits for local workers. It is addressed moreso through an almost ethnogr ...more

flag Like · see review

Nov 13, 2017 Debby rated it it was amazing

Superb! Irene Sun worked with me on a Centre for Economic Policy Research (UK) grant on Chinese manufacturing investment in Africa. I am delighted that this initial Nigeria research fed into Irene's curiosity about Chinese factories in Africa, and loved getting her updates about other countries she visited for this work. Her fascinating stories and analysis are now available to everyone in her new Harvard Business School press book. Irene is an astoundingly talented person: as a writer, communic ...more

flag Like · see review

Jan 26, 2018 Dave Redford rated it really liked it

In the past quarter century, China has gone from generating 2% of global GDP output to 25%. Chinese entrepreneurs are now transferring these skills and investing in factories in Africa. According to the author, over the next decade 8 out of the 10 fastest-growing economies are projected to be on the African continent. The book convincingly makes the case that, from the English Industrial Revolution onwards, prosperity has always followed the building of factories, and what Africa needs is an ups ...more

flag Like · see review

May 10, 2020 Belinda Cheng rated it it was amazing

A contrarian approach to Chinese investment in Africa that I have never encountered before in popular news channels. While I think the author's arguments do, at times, neglect to openly address the harm of Chinese factory management and practices in Africa, I understand that is not her prerogative.

Nonetheless, I found this to be a very informative and educational read. I think she brought up very valid points that were appropriately substantiated. Will be interesting to see how her predictions ...more

flag Like · see review

Oct 25, 2018 Eric Chuhao rated it really liked it

This book is an eye opener with ample stories of Chinese manufacturing entrepreneurship in Africa. The author approaches this topic with personal experiences and anecdotes which nicely contrasts with the way Western think tanks deal with Chinese expansion in the continent. And it's the merit of this book. Nevertheless, the diary-like writing style makes the book lighter than the title and the cover suggests, which, to some extent, is quite disappointing. ...more

flag Like · see review

May 09, 2019 Larson Cole rated it it was amazing

Irene Yuan Sun's personal story and detailed testimonies from 'The Next Factory' makes me want to go to Africa. I don't yet know how to impact communities positively, but this novel planted the seed of curiosity and challenged my established understanding of aid and economic intervention. I need to believe I can do anything I set my mind to, and this book shifted my mile high goals in a 'half-glass-full' lens. ...more

flag Like · see review

May 15, 2019 David Wunderlich rated it it was amazing

Shelves: nonfiction, economics-business

I found this book very interesting since I knew little of industrialization specifics of either China or Africa. There's a lot of wisdom in it, especially in the way it contrasts the good intentions of Western NGOs and charities that try elaborate bank-shot ideas for raising the continent up with the Chinese-African businesses and partnerships that are just going about building up economies the old fashioned way of building and running factories. ...more

flag Like · see review

Nov 19, 2017 Eddie Choo rated it really liked it

An even handed optimistic view of China

The author gives a good view about the history of China’s developments in Africa. This is a well-considered view - it works as a description if China’s entrepreneurs up to this point in history in 2017.

flag Like · see review

Jan 30, 2018 Marcus Goncalves rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

What a fascinating read! This book was well-researched and carefully presented, providing a total look at the situation-to-date, noting how Chinese companies have been establishing a foothold in Africa.

flag Like · see review

Mar 29, 2018 Bianca rated it it was amazing

An easy to read text with lots of interesting stories to prove the broader trends trying to be communicated. The author was also great at not overstating her findings or extrapolating them in an unjustifiable manner.

flag Like · see review

Aug 22, 2019 Nils Lehr rated it it was amazing

Very interesting book giving a new perspective on development in general and on Chinese private investments in Africa in particular.

As an economist, i definitely feel that the book has expanded my horizon on potential fruitful avenues for development.

flag Like · see review

Jan 03, 2020 Simon Semelin rated it it was ok

Not much new. Mostly the fact that China has put their focus on making a mark in Africa and juice the profits thy can. And the African countries are willing to accept this and reject some collab with EU which sets higher demands etc.

flag Like · see review

Sep 28, 2020 Olivia rated it liked it

Riveting read in the beginning and puts ones mind in a place of brainstorming through the different issues in Africa and how those issues can be resolved. Nonetheless, I did not finish it. Feedback is that I desired to see and hear more practical ways rather than stories of what people have done.

flag Like · see review