The signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and the African country of Kenya marks the EU's formal recognition of Africa as a new growth point for future economic development and its actions.
The agreement mainly focuses on establishing a flexible and convenient bilateral mechanism to reduce and eliminate tariffs and eliminate quota restrictions. The EU will be the first to remove tariffs on Kenya's exports of all types of goods, and the latter will quickly follow
Similar to the signing of a free ** agreement between the two parties. The EU, for its part, is very pleased with the partnership with Kenya, which von der Leyen defines as "mutually beneficial", and called on other African countries to actively join the negotiations to establish a similar mechanism.
But from a profit perspective, it will be difficult for Kenya to make more profit from its ** with the EU in the short term. The European Union has proposed a "global gateway" plan, which is expected to invest 300 billion euros by 2027
Assist developing countries in building infrastructure. Although many Western leaders have been scandalizing and smearing the "Belt and Road" initiative, and comparing any of their overseas layout plans with the "Belt and Road" initiative
But in reality, China does not see them as competitors. Rather than preparing for market confrontation early, China is actually happy to see the EU invest in Africa, because Africa is too backward now
It is also difficult for Chinese companies to make much direct profit when they go overseas to Africa, and the social conditions in many African countries cannot even guarantee the basic safety of local foreign enterprises. But the EU's calculations are different from ours
They have been suggesting that the EU's infrastructure aid will be given priority to African countries, which are geographically close to Europe, just across the Mediterranean
And Africa is now the only region in the EU that can ensure the projection of military capabilities. The EU has signed an agreement with Kenya on how to provide aid support to Kenya
Let the latter be able to undertake the industry as soon as possible to form a high-level industrial match with the EU, and other issues are not even clueless now. In the second decade, the model of Chinese enterprises building infrastructure in Africa for resources has entered its second decade, and in the words of the older generation of intellectuals, the EU is at least 10 years behind China in terms of investing in Africa's future.