Is Turkey putting pressure on China in Africa’s infrastructure market?
Two years after Kenya’s deal with India’s Adani Group to modernise Jomo Kenyatta International Airport collapsed, the state-owned China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) has won a US$1.2 billion contract to do just that. The same pattern played out when France’s Vinci lost a major highway deal in Kenya and CRBC took over as developer alongside another Chinese firm. Under the original 30-year…
China's infrastructure dominance in Africa has been on the rise, as evidenced by its recent acquisition of a US$1.2 billion contract to modernize Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya. The same trend is seen in other African nations where China's Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) takes over projects from Western firms like Vinci and France's Vinci.
This growing Chinese presence is attributed to their flexible financing options, lower costs, and willingness to take on risks that discourage Western companies from operating in Africa.
Emerging players such as Turkey and the Gulf states, including Turkey's Yapi Merkezi and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), are also making their mark in Africa's infrastructure sector. Turkish companies have built railway sections in Tanzania, while the UAE has focused on ports across the continent. These companies bring diverse expertise, including capital, logistics, port management, aviation, construction, and diplomacy, which makes them more competitive in Africa's infrastructure market.
The increasing competition among these players suggests that Africa's infrastructure market is becoming more multipolar. While China remains a significant player, its dominance is challenged by Turkey, the UAE, and other emerging nations. These countries have a well-defined Africa strategy and leverage their cultural ties, financial strength, and expertise to secure contracts.
This competition is expected to intensify as Western presence in Africa retreats, making the regional infrastructure landscape more diverse and dynamic.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
