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Africa's Journey Up

Seven out of ten of the world's fastest growing economies are reckoned to be African. But what does the continent need to do to sustain this impressive track record?

Africa has posted some stunning growth figures. Seven out of ten of the world's fastest growing economies are reckoned to be African. But what does the continent need to do to sustain this impressive track record into the future? We hear from Dr. Kingsley Moghalu, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and author of Emerging Africa: How the Global Economy's 'Last Frontier' Can Prosper and Matter. He tells us he believes everything depends on the ability of African nations to develop internal manufacturing sectors that will mean Africa can make the most of its vast wealth of raw materials. And he criticises trading blocks, such as the European Union, which he says put unfair tariffs onto goods manufactured in Africa, in order to protect themselves. Our reporter Lucy Hooker is in Tanzania to learn about the modernisation of the tax collection system there the success of which, she learns, will be as much dependant on delivering visible improvements to health and education as it will on the new technologies being used to gather the cash. And Lucy Kellaway reflects on the niceties of asking someone their age.

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18 minutes

Last on

Mon 3 Feb 2014 08:32GMT

Broadcast

  • Mon 3 Feb 2014 08:32GMT

Podcast