Photo credits: Shutterstock, ZSM
A virtual event was held on Thursday, July 2 to launch CARI's new interactive database and its latest publication, “Risky Business: New Data on Chinese Loans and Africa’s Debt Problem”.
From modest beginnings in 1960, China has recently become a highly visible actor in Africa’s lending landscape. The World Bank recently released data on official debt to China in 37 African countries. We at CARI use this debt data, and our own new data on over 1,100 loan commitments across all of China's African borrowers, to analyze Chinese lending to Africa's risky borrowers.
Which African borrowers are most at risk of debt distress, and how does Chinese lending affect this debt? Who are the Chinese lenders in Africa and how do they manage lending in risky environments? What kind of terms do we see on Chinese loans in Africa? How does China's collateralized lending work in Africa? Do Chinese banks require property as collateral for loans to African governments or their state-owned enterprises?
The highlight of this event was the public launch of CARI's interactive dashboard of Chinese loan commitments.
The presentation was followed by a discussion and a Q&A session.
Presenters:
Prof. Deborah BRAUTIGAM, Director, China-Africa Research Initiative
Mr. Kevin ACKER, Research Manager, China-Africa Research Initiative
Mr. Yufan HUANG, Research Assistant, China-Africa Research Initiative
Moderator:
Prof. Kevin GALLAGHER, Professor of Global Development Policy; Director, Global Development Policy Center, Boston University