BERLIN (AP) — The German government pledged Monday to invest 4 billion euros ($4.37 billion) in green energy projects in Africa by 2030, with Chancellor Olaf Solz saying that African countries should benefit more from their wealth of raw materials.
Scholz discussed the commitment at a press conference on the G20 Compact with Africa summit taking place in Berlin. He did not name specific projects, but said materials used in green energy should be processed in the African nations where they come from.
“This creates jobs and prosperity in these countries,” Scholz said. “And German industry gets reliable suppliers.”
The Compact with Africa builds on an initiative launched by Germany during its presidency of the Group of 20 leading rich and developing countries. It aims to improve economic conditions in participating countries in order to make them more attractive for foreign private investment.
Scholz said that Germany must become a long-term and reliable partner in African countries.
“Africa is our partner of choice when it comes to intensifying our economic relations and moving together towards a climate neutral future,” he said.
Africa Pact countries include Egypt, Ethiopia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo and in Tunisia, according to the German news agency dpa.
Asked about China’s strong presence in Africa, several African leaders said the continent is open to other partnerships.
“Maybe China was bolder, maybe they have more vision and maybe they trusted the potential in Africa,” said Moussa Faki, chair of the African Union Commission.
“The African continent is open to different partnerships,” he added. “Our desire is for you to trust us, to impose fewer conditions and to create the conditions together. …
“Improving governance, that’s our responsibility, and therefore this shared vision could allow, I’m sure of that, a lot of capital that could be invested in the continent,” Faki said.
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