Most of pre-colonial Africa, has a reputation of being biased towards its colonial language heritage.

It is the apparent colonial umbilical cord that is fuelling perceptions that for example, France, or French companies, have an unfair edge over other foreign direct investors. The same applies to English, Portuguese, Spannish, German and other ex-colonies.

It is acknowledged that the historical political and economic links exist between countries.

African countries need to structure new relationships with other countries in order to meet the investment needs of development.

Additionally every country requires specific technologies as available from global suppliers in order to increase their flow of investment and competitiveness.

Resources & Art Afrilink Sarl identifies that to get involved in the globalising world, developing countries need to strengthen their relations with other countries.

Recruiting new investors to break the perceived ex-colonial monopoly will introduce competition and the attendant spin-offs such as choice and lower prices, while creating upliftment and the creation of employment.

Every African country should diversify their investment portfolio by introducing competition.

For example, the 14 member countries of the CFA Franc Zone, accounting for 17% of sub- Saharan Africa’s gross domestic product, have been less affected to date by the slowdown of the global economy.

This is partly because the bulk of their trade in this case France, a similar scenario applies to East and Southern African Anglophone countries.

Being tied to a strong Francophone or Anglophone currency may deliver low inflation, but creates unemployment and sluggish export and output growth together with political and social instability.

© 2008 Art Afrilink Sarl