China Into Africa: The Indian Ocean Connection

With flourishing China-Africa relations, Chinese outbound foreign direct investment in Africa is expected to soar. Against this backdrop, the Indian Ocean Islands of Mauritius and the Seychelles are fast positioning themselves as investment gateways into Africa.

China's economic presence in Africa has increased exponentially over the last decade. Initially fuelled by China's rapidly growing energy demand and the pressing need to secure new energy sources, Chinese interest in Africa now extends beyond oil.

As the second-fastest growing region in the world, with an estimated collective GDP expected to reach US$2.6 trillion by 2020, the time to invest in Africa is now. Chinese investors, bullish on the compelling business and investment opportunities the continent has to offer, are already tapping into Africa's raw potential. China currently ranks as Africa's largest trading partner. As at the end of 2011, China's cumulative Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Africa,