S'pore FTA in Africa a question of 'when', not 'if'

OF the 10 countries that attended the recent BRICS Summit in Xiamen, China - five BRICS members and five guest countries - three were from Africa, namely South Africa, Egypt, and Kenya.

Nigeria, which briefly took the mantle of Sub-Saharan Africa's largest economy from South Africa, was notably absent.

The inclusion of three African states is no coincidence. It is now the fastest-growing region after East Asia, and while the commodity downturn has hurt some of these export-oriented economies, there are arguably richer opportunities to be found now. China was strategic in inviting Egypt and Kenya, key partners in any push for the African part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).