Russia is aiming for Africa to become the second largest trading centre after the Chinese giant.
This is what is outlined by the Russia-Africa summit wanted by President Vladimir Putin and underway these days in Sochi, on the Black Sea.
You say Africa and economically you say above all Kenya, that is, the country with the highest growth and the most attractive, with the exception of Morocco which, however, is not considered, like the entire Maghreb area, as part of the Black Continent, and South Africa which has always made history in itself.
It is no coincidence that President Uhuru Kenyatta had already met Putin privately for the first time two years ago in Beijing on the sidelines of another meeting, in which the foundations for a future massive collaboration were laid and also this time he was one of the first to talk to him. Russia presented Kenya with an ad hoc plan of investments, partnerships and proposals that are very attractive.
In addition to the classic import-export panorama, with particular reference to agricultural products and fertilisers, the possibilities of financing that arise are particularly in the field of health (specialist clinics, hospitals) and industry. But Putin's introductory words, which opened the Sochi summit yesterday, also shed light on other aspects on which Russia wants to be an alternative and integrative to the "commercial colonialism" of the Chinese: organization of security, food programs to deal with climate emergencies (the former Soviet Union is the largest producer of wheat in the world) and tutoring for debt reduction, according to guidelines that have already been successfully tested in states such as Madagascar, Mozambique and Tanzania. The United Nations is ready to collaborate, according to Tsar Vladimir. And the Chinese are watching.