REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya
President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva has made eleven tours to Africa during his presidency, visiting 26 countries. Although few concrete gains have been achieved -- Brazil's exports to Africa have only risen from 2.4% of the total in 2000 to just over 5.0% in 2009 -- numerous companies now have operations in Africa for the first time and the seeds for steady growth have been sown. While Brazil's trade with Africa has doubled in the past ten years, that with China has increased tenfold in the same period. However, agricultural technology developed in Brazil is particularly appropriate for Africa. Brazilian mining and construction companies may also do better than those from China, as they give greater priority to employing local workers.
