The Africa Connection.

The article focuses on the emergence of Africa as a favored destination for foreign investment. Higher oil prices have led to unprecedented wealth being accumulated in the Middle East region. But unlike the 1970s boom when the cash was unerringly deposited in western markets or spent on their treasury paper, one of today's favoured investment destinations is Africa. There are a number of very good reasons for this trend. Firstly there are already strong trade links between the continent and Middle East evidenced by the number of African airlines that fly freight and passenger services to the Gulf. Secondly, there are traditional cultural affinities, stretching back over many centuries and certainly before European colonisation came to Africa. Dhows from the Arabian Gulf have been using the seasonal monsoon winds to trade down the east coast of Africa since time immemorial.