A New Epoch in the Development of Russian-African Cooperation

137
DOI: 10.20542/0131-2227-2020-64-12-113-122
Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences (IAS RAS), 30/1, Spiridonovka Str., Moscow, 123001, Russian Federation

Abstract. The article contains an analysis of the current state of trade and economic relations between Russia and African countries, as well as the prospects for their development after the first Russia-Africa Summit and the Economic Forum in Sochi in October 2019. The author notes a large surplus in Russia’s trade with Africa and explains the reasons for the dominance of the countries of North Africa, and especially Egypt, in its geographical structure. The main product groups are listed, through which Russia can increase exports to Africa; Russia’s main competitors in trade with the continent as well as state support measures for exporters are described. However, the main contribution to the development of Russian-African economic ties in the future will be made not by foreign trade, but by economic cooperation. Its flagships are now three major projects worth more than $1 billion each, all of which are carried out in Egypt. Among Russian companies investing in the economies of African countries, mining ones are currently dominant. Of these, Rosneft made the biggest investments. This company develops the largest gas field in Egypt – Zohr, and implements projects also in Mozambique. Exploration, finance and the IT technology sector are also of particular interest to Russian companies in Africa. The author indicates the most promising areas for the development of Russian- African industrial cooperation and the transfer of Russian technologies to this continent. In addition, in recent years, Russia and African countries have increasingly regarded security as an important area of bilateral relations. The article reveals the main threats to the security of African countries, the ability of Russian companies to strengthen it and Russia’s contribution to UN peacekeeping operations in Africa, in comparison with contributions of the other permanent members of the Security Council. It describes a number of measures that can contribute to the development of Russian-African partnership in the context of the Sochi consensus.

Keywords: Russia, Africa, foreign trade, economic relations, industrial cooperation, technology transfer, security


REFERENCES

  1. Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 640 of 30.11.2016 on Approval of the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation (In Russ.) Available at: http://kremlin.ru/acts/bank/41451 (accessed 17.12.2019).
  2. Abramova I.O. Novaya rol’ Afriki v mirovoi ekonomike XXI veka [The New Role of Africa in the World Economy of the XXI Century]. Moscow, Institute for African Studies RAS, 2013. 323 p.
  3. Fituni L., Abramova I. Resource Potential of Africa and Russia’s National Interests in the XXI Century. Moscow, Institute for African Studies RAS, 2013. 227 p.
  4. Russia–Africa: a Structural Approach to Cooperation in the Framework of the New Economic Reality (In Russ.) Available at: https://roscongress.org/sessions/1rossiya-afrika-strukturnyy-podkhod-k-sotrudnichestvu-v-ramkakh-novoy-ekonomicheskoy-realnosti/discussion/ (accessed 04.12.2019).
  5. Declaration of the First Russia–Africa Summit (In Russ.) Available at: http://www.kremlin.ru/supplement/5453 (accessed 10.12.2019).
  6. Roscongress. Russia-Africa Economic Forum Sochi 2019 October 23–24 (In Russ.) Available at: https://roscongress.org/upload/medialibrary/621/infographics_africa_2019_10_29_02.pdf (accessed 10.12.2019).
  7. Exports. List of Importing Markets for a Product Exported by Russian Federation. Available at: https://www.trademap.org/Country_SelProductCountry_TS.aspx (accessed 12.12. 2019).
  8. Imports. List of Supplying Markets for a Product Imported by Russian Federation. Available at: https://www.trademap.org/Country_SelProductCountry_TS.aspx (accessed 12.12.2019).
  9. HS Code Book. Available at: https://customsdutyfree.com/hs-code-book/ (accessed 09.09.2019).
  10. ITC. Trade Map. Available at: http://www.trademap.org (accessed 12.12.2019).
  11. Top 5 Russian Military Contracts with Africa in 2019 Headed by SU‑35S (In Russ.) Available at: https://rueconomics.ru/423390-top-5-rossiiskikh-voennykh-kontraktov-s-afrikoi-v-2019-godu-vozglavili-istrebiteli-su-35s (accessed 19.12.2019).
  12. Ranking of Attractiveness of Foreign Country Markets for Russian Exports of Non-Primary Non-Energy Products 2018 (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.exportcenter.ru/international_markets/country_rating/ranking_2018.pdf (accessed 17.12.2019).
  13. Volkov S., Tkachenko A. Ekonomicheskoe sotrudnichestvo Rossii so stranami Severnoi Afriki [Economic Cooperation of Russia with the Countries of North Africa]. Mirovaya ekonomika i mezhdunarodnye otnosheniya, 2019, vol. 63, no. 7, рр. 57-66. DOI: 10.20542/0131-2227-2019-63-7-57-66
  14. Russian Industrial Zone in the Arab Republic of Egypt. Companies Participating in the Project and Signing Agreements of Intent (In Russ.) Available at: http://rioegypt.ru/#rec128363986 (accessed 31.12.2019).
  15. Russian Export Center. Russian Industrial Zone in the Arab Republic of Egypt (In Russ.) Available at: https://aebrus.ru/upload/iblock/b9f/presentation_ilya-pomigalov_-rec.pdf (accessed 02.12.2019).
  16. Transmashholding Hungary will Supply 1.3 Thousand Cars to Egypt (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.gudok.ru/news/?ID=1436191 (accessed 04.12.2019).
  17. Industrial Cooperation – Potential Growth Points (In Russ.) Available at: https://roscongress.org/sessions/africa-2019-promyshlennaya-kooperatsiya-potentsialnye-tochki-rosta/discussion/ (accessed 23.12. 2019).
  18. Zohr Project, Egypt (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.rosneft.ru/business/Upstream/ProductionAndDevelopment/Proekt_Zohr_Egipet/ (accessed 02.12.2019).
  19. Gas Production at the Zohr Field in the First Half of the Year Increased by 3.6 Times – up to 11.3 Billion Cubic Meters (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.rosneft.ru/press/news/item/196429/ (accessed 06.12.2019).
  20. On the Shelf and on Land. Rosneft Together with Exxon Mobil will be Engaged in Oil Exploration in Mozambique (In Russ.) Available at: https://neftegaz.ru/news/view/175793-Na-shelfe-i-sushe.-Rosneft-sovmestno-s-ExxonMobil-zaymetsya-razvedkoy-nefti-v-Mozambike (accessed 06.12.2019).
  21. TASS: Interview of the General Director of JSC “Rosgeologia” Roman Panov in the Framework of the IEF 2018. (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.rosgeo.com/ru/content/tass-intervyu-generalnogo-direktora-ao-rosgeologiya-romana-panova-v-ramkah-pmef‑2018 (accessed 24.12.2019).
  22. Work Abroad. (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.rosgeo.com/ru/content/rabota-za-rubezhom (accessed 24.12.2019).
  23. Rosgeologia is Negotiating New Projects in Egypt (In Russ.) Available at: https://news.rambler.ru/africa/39182852-rosgeologiya-vedet-peregovory-o-novyh-proektah-v-egipte/ (accessed 25.12.2019).
  24. Geophysical, Geochemical and Geological Projects Carried out by the Tellur Group of Companies in 2007–2018 (In Russ.) Available at: http://www.tellur.org/Ref%20-%20list.pdf (accessed 24.12.2019).
  25. Institute of Mineral Resources of Africa, Asia and America (In Russ.) Available at: http://www.shirkunov.org/ (accessed 25.12. 2019).
  26. VimpelCom делает погоду. [VimpelCom Makes the Weather (In Russ.)] Available at: https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1516368 (accessed 17.12.2019).
  27. VEON. About Us. Markets. Available at: http://www.gtelecom.com/web/guest/company-profile (accessed 17.12.2019).
  28. Kaspersky. Partner Search (In Russ.) Available at: https://partnersearch.kaspersky.com/?b2b&locale=ru (accessed 31.03.2019).
  29. Safe Africa (In Russ.) Available at: https://roscongress.org/sessions/africa-2019-bezopasnaya-afrika/discussion/ (accessed 17.01.2020).
  30. Sergey Lavrov’s Speech “Peace and Security in Africa: Partnership for Strengthening Regional Peace and Security” (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/-/asset_publisher/cKNonkJE02Bw/content/id/3811183 (accessed 17.01.2020).
  31. Peacekeeping in Africa (In Russ.) Available at: https://russiancouncil.ru/blogs/ravunpm/34864/ (accessed 16.01.2020).

Registered in System SCIENCE INDEX

For citation:
Volkov S. A New Epoch in the Development of Russian-African Cooperation. World Eсonomy and International Relations, 2020, vol. 64, no. 12, pp. 113-122. https://doi.org/10.20542/0131-2227-2020-64-12-113-122



Comments (0)

No comments

Add comment







Indexed

 

 

 

 

Dear authors! Please note that in the VAK List of peer-reviewed scientific journals, in which the main scientific results of dissertations for the degree of candidate and doctor of sciences should be published for the “MEMO Journal” the following specialties are recorded:
economic sciences:
5.2.5. World Economy.
5.2.1. Economic Theory
5.2.3. Regional and Branch Economics
political sciences:
5.5.4. International Relations
5.5.1. History and Theory of Politics
5.5.2. Political Institutions, Processes, Technologies

 

Current Issue
2024, vol. 68, No. 3
Topical Themes of the Issue:
  • Bretton Woods 2.0: Towards a New Global Financial Architecture
  • Transformation of the EU Political Party System on the Eve of the 2024 European Election
  • South Asia in Regional and World Politics
Submit an Article
INVITATION FOR PUBLICATION
The Editorial Board invites authors to write analytical articles on the following topics:
  • changes in the processes of globalization in modern conditions
  • formation of the new world order
  • shifts in civilization at the stage of transition to a digital society

The editors are also interested in publishing synthesis articles / scientific reviews revealing the main trends in the development of certain regions of the world - Latin America, Africa, South Asia, etc.