Forbes published on 4 September 2020 an article titled "The US versus Chinese Investment in Africa" by Earl Carr, Momentum Advisors.
The author compares US discussions with Kenya for a free trade agreement with China's focus on providing loans for infrastructure projects throughout Africa.
This seems to be a case of comparing apples and oranges with neither activity really qualifying as "investment." The US effort is aimed at increasing trade with Kenya while China is making available loans that must be repaid.
The proposed free trade agreement with Kenya is a positive initiative and if it succeeds may lead to agreements with other African countries, although this is not a certainty. China has made available substantial loan financing and continues to do so, although the amount of financing has been declining in recent years.
Neither China nor the US is upping its economic game in Africa. The possibility of a US free trade agreement with one of Africa's 54 countries is a start but hardly a game changer.
