West Africa. EGP South Africa: description, characteristics, main features and interesting facts

Introduction……………………………………………………………………… 3

1 General economic geographical characteristic African countries… 4

2 Colonization of Africa………………………………………………….... 6

3 Natural conditions and resources of Africa………………………………. 9

4 Mining regions of Africa……………………………….. 11

5 Economy: sectoral and territorial structure, place

Africa in the world………………………………………………………………………. 12

6 Problems and difficulties of African states………………….. 16

7 Integration processes……………………………………………. 16

8 External economic relations……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

9 Sub-regions of Africa………………………………………………….. 18

9.1.1 North Africa……………………………………………….. 18

9.1.2 Economic assessment of Egypt………………………………… 18

9.2.1 Tropical Africa…………………………………………... 20

9.2.2 Economic assessment of Angola……………………………….. 21

9.3.1 Republic of South Africa……………………………... 24

9.3.2 Economic Assessment of South Africa…………………………………. 24

Conclusion……………………………………………………………… 30

List of used sources…………………………………. 31

Introduction

Africa covers an area of ​​29.2 million km². The length from north to south is 8 thousand km, from west to east in the northern part - 7.5 thousand km. A feature of the EGP of many countries in the region is the lack of access to the sea. At the same time, in countries facing the ocean, the coastline is slightly indented, which is unfavorable for the construction of large ports. There are 55 states on the territory of Africa, of which three are monarchies, one (Nigeria) is a federal republic, the rest are republics. All countries, with the exception of South Africa, are developing, most of them are the poorest in the world (70% of the population lives below the poverty line).

There is no other continent in the world that would suffer as much from colonial oppression and the slave trade as Africa.

The continent is almost in the middle crossed by the equator and lies completely between the subtropical belts of the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The peculiarity of its shape - the northern part is 2.5 times wider than the southern one - determined the difference in their natural conditions. At the base of most of the continent lies the Precambrian platform, 2/3 covered by sedimentary rocks (at the base in the north). The relief of Africa is characterized by stepped plateaus, plateaus, and plains. The highest uplifts are confined to the outskirts of the mainland. Africa is exceptionally rich in minerals, although they are still poorly understood. Among other continents, it ranks first in reserves of ores of manganese, chromite, bauxite, gold, platinum, cobalt, diamonds, and phosphorites. The resources of oil, natural gas, graphite, and asbestos are also great.

1 General economic and geographical characteristics of African countries

The mainland occupies 1/5 of the earth's land mass. In size (30.3 million square kilometers with islands) of all parts of the world it is second only to Asia. The region includes 55 countries.

There are several options for dividing Africa into regions. In the scientific literature, the five-term division of Africa is most accepted, including the North (the Maghreb countries, the Mediterranean coast), the West (the northern part of the Atlantic coast and the coast of the Gulf of Guinea), the Central (Chad, Tsar, Zaire, the Congo, etc.), the East (located to east of the Great African Rifts), South.

Almost all African countries are republics (with the exception of Lesotho, Morocco and Sutherland, which are still constitutional monarchies). The administrative-territorial structure of states, with the exception of Nigeria and South Africa, is unitary.

Different criteria can be used to evaluate the GWP of African countries. One of the main criteria that separate countries by the presence or absence of access to the sea. Due to the fact that Africa is the most massive continent, no other of them has so many countries located far from the seas. Most of the inland countries are the most backward.

Africa's minerals are unevenly distributed. There are countries in which the lack of a raw material base hinders their development. African land resources are significant. However, extensive farming and rapid population growth have led to catastrophic soil erosion, which reduces crop yields. This, in turn, exacerbates the problem of hunger, which is very relevant for Africa.

The agro-climatic resources of Africa are determined by the fact that it is the hottest continent, lies entirely within the average annual isotherms + 20 "C.

In terms of water resources, Africa is significantly inferior to Asia and South America. The hydrographic network is distributed extremely unevenly.

Africa's forest resources are second only to those of Latin America and Russia. But its average forest cover is much lower, moreover, as a result of deforestation, which exceeds natural growth, deforestation has assumed alarming proportions.

Africa stands out worldwide with the highest rates of population reproduction. In 1960, 275 million people lived on the continent, in 1980-475 million people, in 1990-648 million people, and in 2000, according to forecasts, there will be 872 million.

In terms of growth rates, Kenya-4, 1% (first place in the world), Tanzania, Zambia, and Uganda are especially distinguished. Such high level birth rate is explained by age-old traditions of early marriages and large families, religious traditions, as well as an increased level of health care. Most countries of the continent do not pursue an active demographic policy.

The change in the age structure of the population as a result of the demographic explosion also entails great consequences: in Africa, the share of children's ages is high and still growing (40-50%). This increases the "demographic burden" on the able-bodied population. The population explosion in Africa exacerbates many of the problems of the regions, the most important of which is the food problem. Many problems are connected with the ethnic composition of the population of Africa, which is very diverse. 300-500 ethnic groups stand out. According to the linguistic principle, 12 of the population belong to the Niger-Kordofanian family, 13 to the Afro-Asiatic family, and only 1% are residents of European origin. An important feature of African countries is the mismatch of political and ethnic boundaries as a result of the colonial era of the development of the continent. The legacy of the past is that the official languages ​​of most African countries are still the languages ​​of the former metropolises - English, French, Portuguese.

In terms of urbanization, Africa still lags far behind other regions. However, the rate of urbanization here is the highest in the world. Like many other developing countries, Africa is experiencing "false urbanization".

After gaining independence, African countries began to make efforts to overcome centuries of backwardness. Of particular importance were the nationalization of natural resources, the implementation of agrarian reform, economic planning, and the training of national personnel. As a result, the pace of development in the region accelerated. The restructuring of the sectoral and territorial structure of the economy began. The greatest successes along this path have been achieved in the mining industry, which now makes up 14 of the world's output in terms of production. In the extraction of many types of minerals, Africa has an important, and sometimes monopoly place in the foreign world. It is the extractive industry that primarily determines Africa's place in the MGRT. The manufacturing industry is poorly developed or non-existent. But some countries in the region have a higher level of manufacturing - South Africa, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco.

The second branch of the economy, which determines the place of agriculture in the world economy, is tropical and subtropical agriculture. It also has a pronounced export orientation. But in general, Africa lags behind in its development. It ranks last among the regions of the world in terms of the level of industrialization and crop productivity.

2 Colonization of Africa

The colonies of Africa at the end of the 19th century: the possessions of Great Britain were the most extensive and richest. The colonial empire of France was not inferior in size to the British, but the population of its colonies was several times smaller, and the natural resources were poorer. Most of the French possessions were in West and Equatorial Africa, and a considerable part of their territory fell on the Sahara, the adjacent semi-desert Sahel region and tropical forests. Belgium owned the Belgian Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in 1971-1997 - Zaire), Italy - Eritrea and Italian Somalia, Spain - Spanish Sahara (Western Sahara), Germany - German East Africa (now - the continental part of Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi), Cameroon, Togo and German South West Africa (Namibia).

The main incentives that led to the heated battle between the European powers for Africa are considered to be economic ones. Indeed, the desire to exploit the natural wealth and population of Africa was of paramount importance. But it cannot be said that these hopes were immediately justified. The south of the continent, where the world's largest deposits of gold and diamonds were discovered, began to give huge profits. But before receiving income, large investments were first needed to explore natural resources, create communications, adapt the local economy to the needs of the metropolis, to suppress the protests of the indigenous people and to find effective ways to make them work for the colonial system. All this took time.

Another argument of the ideologues of colonialism was not immediately justified either. They argued that the acquisition of colonies would create many jobs in the metropolises themselves and eliminate unemployment, since Africa would become a capacious market for European products and huge construction of railways, ports, and industrial enterprises would unfold there. If these plans were implemented, then more slowly than expected, and on a smaller scale.

The First World War was in no small measure a struggle for the redivision of Africa, but it did not affect the lives of most African countries particularly strongly. Military operations were conducted only on the territory of the German colonies. They were conquered by the Entente troops and after the war, by decision of the League of Nations, they were transferred to the Entente countries as mandated territories: Togo and Cameroon were divided between Great Britain and France, German South-West Africa went to the Union of South Africa (South Africa), part of German East Africa - Rwanda and Burundi - was transferred to Belgium, the other - Tanganyika - to Great Britain. With the acquisition of Tanganyika, an old dream of the British ruling circles came true: a continuous strip of British possessions arose from Cape Town to Cairo.

After the end of the war, the process of colonial development of Africa accelerated. The colonies were increasingly turning into agricultural and raw material appendages of the metropolises. Agriculture increasingly focused on exports. An increasing number of colonies became countries of a monocultural economy. On the eve of the Second World War, in many countries from two-thirds to 98% of the value of all exports came from any one crop. In the Gambia and Senegal, the peanut has become such a crop, in Zanzibar - the carnation, in Uganda - cotton. Some countries had two export crops: coffee and cocoa in the Ivory Coast and Togo, coffee and tea in Kenya, and so on. In Gabon and some other countries, valuable forest species have become a monoculture.

In West Africa, as well as in most parts of East and Central Africa, export products were produced mainly on the farms of the Africans themselves. European plantation production did not take root there due to climatic conditions difficult for Europeans. The main exploiters of the African manufacturer were foreign companies. Export agricultural products were produced on farms owned by Europeans located in the Union of South Africa, Southern Rhodesia, part of Northern Rhodesia, Kenya, South West Africa.

During the Second World War, military operations in Tropical Africa were conducted only in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Italian Somalia. Hundreds of thousands of Africans were mobilized in the metropolitan army. An even greater number of people had to serve the troops, work for military needs. Africans fought in North Africa, Western Europe, the Middle East, Burma, Malaya.

1960 went down in history as the "Year of Africa". 17 new African states appeared on the world map. Most of them are French colonies and UN Trust Territories.

1960 changed the whole situation on the African continent. The dismantling of the rest of the colonial regimes has already become inevitable.

3 Natural conditions and resources of Africa

Africa is a continent of great economic opportunities, which is characterized by a variety of natural conditions, a wealth of mineral resources, the presence of significant land, water, plant and other resources. Africa is characterized by a slight dissection of the relief, which contributes to economic activity - the development of agriculture, industry, and transport.

The location of most of the continent in the equatorial belt largely determined the presence of huge tracts of humid equatorial forests. Africa accounts for 10% of the world's forest area, accounting for 17% of the world's timber resources - one of the main African exports.

The largest desert in the world - the Sahara - contains huge reserves of fresh water in its bowels, and large river systems are characterized by gigantic volumes of flow and energy resources.

Africa is rich in minerals, which are resources for the development of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, and the chemical industry. Thanks to new discoveries, Africa's share in the proven world reserves of energy raw materials is increasing. There are more reserves of phosphorites, chromites, titanium, tantalum than in any part of the world. The reserves of bauxite, copper, manganese, cobalt, uranium ores, diamonds, rare earth metals, gold, etc. are of worldwide importance. Zambia to East Africa (deposits of copper, uranium, cobalt, platinum, gold, manganese); Guinean part of West Africa (deposits of bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, oil); the zone of the Atlas Mountains and the coast of Northwest Africa (cobalt, molybdenum, lead, zinc, iron ore, mercury, phosphorites); Northern Africa (oil, gas of the Mediterranean coast and shelf).

Africa is exceptionally rich in natural resources. In depressions and coastal areas there is fuel raw material. Oil and gas are produced in North and West Africa (Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt, Libya). Colossal reserves of cobalt and copper ores are concentrated in Zambia and People's Republic Congo; manganese ores are mined in South Africa and Zimbabwe; platinum, iron ores and gold - in South Africa; diamonds - in the Congo, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Ghana; phosphorites - in Morocco, Tunisia; uranium - in Niger, Namibia.

Table 1 - Classification of African countries according to the degree of their wealth in minerals

Countries rich in diverse mineral resources	Countries rich in one or two types of minerals	Countries poor in minerals
South Africa - gold, platinum, diamonds, uranium, iron, chromite, manganese ores, coal, asbestos. Zaire - cobalt, manganese, copper, tin, zinc-lead ores. Guinea- gold, diamonds, bauxites, iron ore, oil.	Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, Gabon and others - oil and natural gas. Liberia, Mauritania, Algeria- ores of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, uranium, diamonds, iron ore. Ghana- bauxites. Zambia, Morocco- cobalt. Zambia- copper. Nigeria- tin. O. Madagascar- mica and graphite. North African countries- phosphites, lead and zinc. Botswana- lithium, chromite. Tanzania, Morocco- manganese.	Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan.

4 African mining regions

Over the past decades, Africa has emerged as one of the largest producers of minerals. Africa's share in the world mining industry is 14, but in the production of diamonds, gold, cobalt, manganese ores, chromites, uranium concentrates, phosphites, it is much larger. It also produces a lot of copper and iron ore, bauxite, oil and natural gas. Africa dominates the market for such "metals of the 20th century" as vanadium, lithium, beryllium, tantalum, niobium, and germanium. Almost all extracted raw materials and fuel are exported from Africa to economically developed countries, which makes its economy more dependent on the world market. In particular, this applies to countries such as Algeria, Libya, Guinea, Zambia, Botswana, where the mining industry provides more than 9/10 of all exports.

Africa has very favorable natural conditions for the development of the mining industry.

In total, seven main mining regions can be distinguished in Africa.

1. The region of the Atlas Mountains stands out for its reserves of iron, manganese, polymetallic ores, phosphorites (the world's largest phosphorite belt).

2. The Egyptian mining region is rich in oil, natural gas, iron, titanium ores, phosphorites, etc.

3. The region of the Algerian and Libyan parts of the Sahara is distinguished by the largest oil and gas reserves.

4. West Guinean region - rich in oil, gas, metal ores.

6. Zaire-Zambian region - on its territory there is a unique "Copper Belt" with deposits of high-quality copper, as well as cobalt, zinc, lead, cadmium, germanium, gold, silver.

Zaire is the world's leading producer and exporter of cobalt.

7. The largest mining region in Africa is located within Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa. Almost all types of fuel, ore and non-metallic minerals are mined here, with the exception of oil, gases and bauxites.

5 Economy: sectoral and territorial structure, place

Africa in the world

African countries have not yet succeeded in changing the colonial type of sectoral territorial structure of the economy, although the pace of economic growth has somewhat accelerated. The colonial type of the sectoral structure of the economy is distinguished by the predominance of small-scale, consumer agriculture, the weak development of the manufacturing industry, and the lag in the development of transport. African countries have achieved the greatest success in the mining industry. In the extraction of many minerals, Africa holds a leading and sometimes monopoly place in the world (in the extraction of gold, diamonds, platinoids, etc.). The manufacturing industry is represented by light and food industries, other industries are absent, with the exception of a number of areas near the availability of raw materials and on the coast (Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Nigeria, Zambia, Zaire).

The second sector of the economy that determines Africa's place in the world economy is tropical and subtropical agriculture. Agricultural products account for 60-80% of GDP. The main cash crops are coffee, cocoa beans, peanuts, dates, tea, natural rubber, sorghum, spices. Recently, grain crops have been grown: corn, rice, wheat. Animal husbandry plays a subordinate role, with the exception of countries with arid climates. Extensive cattle breeding prevails, characterized by a huge number of livestock, but low productivity and low marketability. The continent does not provide itself with agricultural products.

Monocultural specialization and the low level of economic development of African states are manifested in an insignificant share in world trade and in the great importance that foreign trade has for the continent itself. Thus, more than 1/4 of Africa's GDP goes to foreign markets, foreign trade provides up to 45 government revenues to the budget of African countries. About 80% of the trade turnover of the continent falls on the developed countries of the West

The leading role in the foreign economic relations of African countries belongs to foreign trade. Exports are dominated by mining and agricultural raw materials, while imports are dominated by finished products. Oil is exported by Algeria, Nigeria, Libya, iron ores - Liberia, Mauritania, diamonds and gold - South Africa, copper - Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa, phosphates - Morocco, uranium - Niger, Gabon, cotton - Egypt, Sudan, Tanzania, coffee - Ethiopia, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Uganda, Angola and others, peanuts - Senegal, Sudan, olive oil - Tunisia, Morocco.

Typical for African countries is a low level of national income, the predominance of commodity-export production in agriculture, and the spread of monoculture. The foreign trade of the continent retains mineral and agrarian raw material specialization.

For the economy of Africa, the following features are typical:

a) versatility;

b) low level of economic development;

c) the agrarian nature of the economy of most countries;

d) a sharp delimitation in agriculture of commodity-export production, subsistence and small-scale farming, serving local needs;

e) the spread of monoculture in agriculture;

f) the predominance of the mining industry in industrial production;

g) preservation of the colonial character in foreign trade.

The essential features of the location of the economy of most African countries are the concentration of economic activity in several centers and a significant gap in the levels of population, development and economic development of individual territories and countries.

Comparatively economically developed in Africa are the territories adjacent to the capitals - cities that became important economic centers back in the colonial period, as well as to ports through which raw materials are exported and where they are partially processed (the Casablanca region in Morocco, Lagos in Nigeria, Alexandria in Egypt, Mombasa in Kenya, etc.). Significant industrial and economic centers arose in the zones of extraction of mineral raw materials (the centers of the "copper belt" in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, industrial centers associated with the oil and gas fields in Algeria and Libya, industrial regions of South Africa).

Africa is a world supplier of many types of tropical plant raw materials: cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, spices, etc. At the same time, the agriculture of developing countries does not provide food for the local population due to the lag in most countries in the production of basic food crops from population growth rates. More than 1/3 of the mainland area is used in African agriculture. Under arable land and perennial plantations, about 7% is occupied, and under pastures - 24% of the area of ​​the continent. and oil palm (tropics), olive (subtropics). In some areas, coffee (coffee) and chocolate (cocoa) trees are grown. The plantation economy in Africa is quite developed, but less than in Latin America and Southeast Asia. In the tropical zone, only separate scattered areas of plantations arose.

On the mainland, the network of means of communication is not sufficiently developed, especially in the hinterland. Rail transport is mainly represented by single-track lines connecting ports with hinterland or connecting navigable sections of rivers. Modern highways are available only near metropolitan or industrial cities. Transport retains the colonial type: railroads run from the areas of extraction of raw materials to the port of its export. Relatively developed rail and sea modes of transport. In recent years, other types of transport have also developed - automobile (a road has been laid across the Sahara), air, and pipeline.

Most states of the mainland are characterized by the presence of "dirty" industries, as well as fuel and communication (construction of communication lines, development of communications) problems.

6 Problems and difficulties of African states

Swollen, unprofessional and inefficient bureaucracies have emerged in most African states. Given the amorphous nature of social structures, the army remained the only organized force. The result is endless military coups. The dictators who came to power appropriated untold wealth. The capital of Mobutu, President of the Congo, at the time of his overthrow was $ 7 billion. The economy functioned poorly, and this gave room for a "destructive" economy: the production and distribution of drugs, illegal mining of gold and diamonds, even human trafficking. Africa's share in world GDP and its share in world exports were declining, output per capita was declining.

The formation of statehood was extremely complicated by the absolute artificiality of state borders. Africa inherited them from the colonial past. They were established during the division of the continent into spheres of influence and have little in common with ethnic boundaries. The Organization of African Unity, created in 1963, realizing that any attempt to correct this or that border could lead to unpredictable consequences, called for these borders to be considered unshakable, no matter how unfair they may be. But these borders have nevertheless become a source of ethnic conflict and the displacement of millions of refugees.

7 Integration processes

A characteristic feature of the integration processes in Africa is the high degree of their institutionalization. At present, there are about 200 economic associations of various levels, scales and directions on the continent. But from the point of view of studying the problem of the formation of subregional identity and its relationship with national and ethnic identity, the functioning of such large organizations as the West African Economic Community (ECOWAS), the South African Development Community (SADC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), etc. The extremely low effectiveness of their activities in previous decades and the advent of the era of globalization required a sharp acceleration of integration processes at a qualitatively different level. Economic cooperation is developing in new - compared to the 1970s - conditions of contradictory interaction between the globalization of the world economy and the increasing marginalization of the positions of African states within its framework and, naturally, in a different coordinate system. Integration is no longer seen as a tool and basis for the formation of a self-sufficient and self-developing economy, relying on its own forces and as opposed to the imperialist West. The approach is different, which, as mentioned above, represents integration as a way and way to include African countries in the globalizing world economy, as well as an impulse and indicator of economic growth and development in general.

8 Foreign economic relations

Monocultural specialization and the low level of economic development of African states are manifested in an insignificant share in world trade and in the great importance that foreign trade has for the continent itself. So, more than 1/4 of Africa's GDP goes to foreign markets, foreign trade provides up to 45 government revenues to the budget of African countries. About 80% of the trade turnover of the continent falls on the developed countries of the West.

9 Sub-regions of Africa

9.1.1 North Africa

North Africa(area - 10 million km2, population - 150 million people). The northern part of this subregion is adjacent to Southern Europe and Southwest Asia and has access to sea routes, the southern one forms the sparsely populated desert and semi-desert spaces of the Sahara. The main centers of manufacturing industry, the main districts of subtropical agriculture and almost the entire population are concentrated in the coastal strip. Large cities - Cairo, Alexandria, Tunisia, Algiers, Casablanca.

9.1.2 Economic evaluation of Egypt

Nationalization - the basis of the economy of Egypt, according to the constitution of 1971, are the principles of socialism. Major nationalization steps were taken after 1961 with the aim of restricting the private sector and weakening the influence of the capitalists. By the early 1970s, almost all important sectors of the economy were already controlled by the government, including big industry, banking, finance, cotton trade, foreign trade.

Taxation - The income tax rate is progressive. The goal is to achieve equality in the distribution of income. There is a direct income tax.

Trade unions are mostly government-run. The workers receive a share of the profits earned by the corporations and elect their representatives on the board of directors. Trade unions are also represented in the National Assembly.

Investment Policy - In the early 1970s, the Egyptian government began to campaign to increase foreign investment in the country's economy and began to receive financial assistance from wealthy Arab states. Although Arab aid was suspended after the signing of a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, the subsequent return of several Western and Japanese corporations increased the potential for further foreign investment in the country's economy.

Wages and standard of living - the general standard of living in Egypt is quite low; A economic resources countries are limited. The rural population, especially the landless agricultural laborers, have the lowest standard of living in the country. Industrial and urban workers in general have a higher standard of living. The highest wages are in the oil industry.

Resources - Approximately 96 percent of Egypt's territory is desert. The lack of forests, meadows and pastures increases the pressure on arable land, which makes up approximately 3 percent of the country's territory. There are natural resources. The country produces oil, phosphates, manganese, iron ore. There are also explored reserves of chromium, uranium and gold.

Agriculture - one of the main commodities produced in the country - cotton - occupies more than one-fifth of the arable land (in summer) and is a significant part of exports. Egypt is one of the world's major producers of "long cotton" (2.85 centimeters or more in length), producing roughly one-third of the world's crop. Other major crops include grain (corn), rice, wheat, millet, and beans.

Industry - the priority direction of development after the signing of an agreement with the USSR in 1964 was the development of heavy industry. The main source of electricity is the 12 Aswan Dam hydroelectric turbines, which have a capacity of approximately 2,000,000 kilowatts and are capable of producing 10,000,000,000 kilowatt hours per year. The capacity of thermal stations is approximately 45 percent of the capacity of the Aswan dam.

The country is producing oil (Morgan, Ramadan), there are deposits of natural gas. Egypt has several oil refineries, two of which are located in Suez. The first of the oil pipelines, which linked the Gulf of Suez and the Mediterranean in the area of ​​Alexandria, was opened in 1977. This Suez-Mediterranean pipeline, known as "Sumed", can pass up to 80,000,000 tons of oil per year.

Finance - Egypt's banking system is built around Central Bank Egypt. In 1961 all banks operating in Egypt were nationalized and their activities concentrated within five commercial banks established in addition to the Central Bank.

Trade - imports make up about one third, exports about one tenth of the gross national product. Almost two-thirds of imports consist of raw materials, mineral, chemical products and capital goods (machines); more than one quarter are food products. More than half of exports consist of oil and oil products, cotton and cotton products. Agricultural exports include rice, onions, garlic, and citrus fruits. Italy and France are among the largest markets for Egypt. The United States is the main source of Egyptian imports.

9.2.1 Tropical Africa

Tropical Africa- located south of the Sahara (territory - 20 million km2, population - over 500 million). The most backward part of the entire developing world (there are 29 least developed countries). The population belongs to the Negroid race. The most complex ethnic composition in West and East Africa. The only sub-region where agriculture remains the main area of ​​material production. Industry: There is one large region of extractive industry - the copper belt in Zaire and Zambia. Transport is underdeveloped. Desertification, deforestation, depletion of flora and fauna are proceeding rapidly. The main area of ​​drought and desertification is the Sahel zone.

The main branch of the economy of most countries in Tropical Africa is agriculture, designed to provide food for the population and serve as a raw material base for the development of the manufacturing industry. It employs the predominant part of the region's able-bodied population and creates the bulk of the total national income. In many states of Tropical Africa, agriculture occupies a leading place in exports, providing a significant part of foreign exchange earnings. In the last decade, an alarming picture has been observed with the growth rates of industrial production, which allows us to speak about the actual deindustrialization of the region. If in 1965-1980 they (on average per year) amounted to 7.5%, then in the 80s only 0.7%, a drop in growth rates took place in the 80s both in the extractive and manufacturing industries. For a number of reasons, a special role in ensuring the socio-economic development of the region belongs to the mining industry, but this production is also declining by 2% annually. Feature development of the countries of Tropical Africa - the weak development of the manufacturing industry. Only in a very small group of countries (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Sinegal) does its share in GDP reach or exceed 20%.

9.2.2 Economic evaluation of Angola

Angola is an agrarian country with a relatively developed industry on an African scale, based on the oil and mining industries. GNP in 2000 amounted to 3.079 million dollars (5%).

The country's economy is based on agriculture, oil production (it is estimated that Angola's undeveloped fields contain about 13 billion barrels of oil), gas, diamonds and minerals. The mining industry accounts for up to half of the GNP: oil fields are being developed and diamonds are being mined.

The gross national product remains quite low due to the civil war that has lasted for more than 20 years.

More than 2/3 of the labor force is employed in agriculture. Cassau, sweet potatoes, corn, and beans are grown for the domestic market. Coffee, cotton, tobacco, sisal, sugarcane, and palm oil are grown for export. Animal husbandry is developed throughout the country; cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, and poultry are bred.

The timber industry is developed, in the eastern regions of Angola (the provinces of South Lund and Moxico), as well as in Cabinda, valuable species of wood (black, red and yellow wood) are being harvested, which is exported. In the Benguela region, eucalyptus trees are grown in forest nurseries.

Before gaining independence, Angola had a fairly developed fishing fleet, but during the war the catch gradually began to decline. Stocks of fish in the economic zone of Angola, according to UN estimates, are about 1 million tons. In 1998, the national companies and vessels of Spain, Portugal, South Africa, South Korea, China and Russia caught 202 thousand tons. fish, in 1999 - 240 thousand tons. Enterprises of light, food and manufacturing industries operate at 20-30% capacity.

The country's foreign exchange earnings are mainly provided by the export of oil, gas and oil products, the share of which in total exports is more than 90% (3.8 billion dollars). In 1998, diamonds were mined for 800 million dollars. Angola's external debt is $9.5 billion. (1999), including Russia - 2.9 billion, Portugal - 1.2 billion, Brazil - 1 billion, France - 300 million.

Export Composition:

Oil 90%, diamonds, oil products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton. In 2000, the volume of exports amounted to 8 billion dollars.

Export geography:

USA 63%, Benelux 9%, China, Chile, France.

Import composition:

Machinery and electrical equipment, spare parts and components for machines, medicines, food, textiles, weapons and ammunition. In 2000, the volume of imports amounted to 2.5 billion dollars.

Import geography:

Portugal 20%, USA 17%, South Africa 10%, Spain, Brazil, France.

Road length:

72 thousand km, of which about 6 thousand are paved. Railway length: about 3300 km. There are four railways in the country (mainly owned by British and Belgian companies).

Main ports:

Luanda, Lobito, Cabinda, Namibe. There are national and foreign companies that carry out ocean and coastal (only between the ports of Angola) transportation. Airports: international - Luanda, 13 local.

A promising export commodity is granite, especially black (export since 1995 amounted to 5 thousand cubic meters per year). Developments are underway for the extraction of phosphates and uranium.

In 1998, the balance of payments deficit amounted to 600 million dollars. Inflation has exceeded 800%. 60% of the able-bodied population are unemployed. The annual per capita income is $273.

In the future, foreign companies, with the support of the Angolan government, plan to invest about $17 billion in the development of the country's industry over the next seven years.

The projects include the development of deep water deposits, the drilling of about 300 mines, the construction of an oil refinery and a natural gas liquefaction plant.

Also, the current government is making efforts to attract potential investors in the development of tourism.

Industrial projects:

The government plans to sell some of the state-owned enterprises into private hands. The newly acquired cement factory has tripled its productivity and output. Industrial development projects include the possibility of acquiring three pharmaceutical plants in Luanda, Benguela and Dondo and the rehabilitation of a fish processing plant in Namibe. In the future, there is also the construction of a steel complex, a shipyard, a seaport in the province of Cabinda, a conveyor for the assembly of military trucks and a brewery.

9.3.1 Republic of South Africa

Republic of South Africa(South Africa) is the only economically developed country on the continent. According to all indicators of economic development, it belongs to the 1st place in Africa. South Africa accounts for 2/5 of industrial production, 4/5 of steel production, 7z of railway length. d., 1/2 car park Africa. The largest industrial region of the continent is the Witwatersrand, in which the capital Pretoria is located.

In accordance with the racist policy of apartheid, 10 "independent black states" or bantustans were created on the site of the former reservations. At the present time apartheid has been officially abolished, but the backwardness of the Bantustans persists.

9.3.2 Economic assessment of South Africa

Today, South Africa is one of the most promising markets among all third world countries. The economy of the Republic of South Africa, this economic giant on the scale of the African continent, contains a unique combination of socio-economic factors inherent in both developed countries and third world countries. The presence of a developed economic infrastructure, a broad technological base, highly qualified managerial and engineering personnel, as well as an extensive market for fairly cheap skilled and unskilled labor have made South Africa extremely attractive and profitable for free business activities and foreign capital investment. The largest international investment companies highlight South Africa as an emerging market with the most favorable conditions for foreign investment.

The recent global financial crisis, which had such a strong impact on a number of third world countries, only underscored the strength and dynamism of the South African economy. Among the fundamental factors that determine the socio-economic situation in the country, first of all, the increased attention of the South African government to the issues of supporting the constant growth of the country's exports, investment in fixed assets, the dynamics of consumption growth and real incomes of the population stands out. The South African government is called upon to provide the most favorable conditions for the external development of the country's economy, maintaining a positive balance of payments and foreign trade of South Africa. This is expressed, first of all, in the creation of a legal framework that in every possible way supports free enterprise and long-term investments.

Thanks to the economic reforms of the GEAR program, the economic situation since the end of 1996 has been characterized by constantly increasing GDP growth (at least 3%), low inflation rates, a stable exchange rate, and a trend towards improving budget indicators at all levels. Favorable domestic market conditions and increasing investment have been factors stimulating economic growth and economic stability in South Africa.

Along with economic transformations, reflected in fiscal and tax reforms, the South African government is encouraging investment and employment through the restructuring and privatization of state-owned enterprises.

Another priority for the government of South Africa is the solution of issues related to unemployment and the redistribution of incomes of the population, which is expressed primarily in the creation of additional jobs for low-skilled workers and the implementation of special subsidy programs.

The main components of the South African economy:

• The richest raw material base;
• In terms of reserves of a number of minerals, such as gold, platinum group metals, manganese, aluminoglucates, South Africa ranks first in the world;
• Most of the South African deposits are unique in terms of the conditions and scale of the occurrence of resources;
• Availability of the widest range of extracted minerals;
• Large agricultural sector;
• South Africa is not only fully self-sufficient in agricultural products, but is one of the six countries in the world that are able to export agricultural products on a sustainable basis;
• Developed financial market, characterized by clarity and reliability of banking and insurance services;
• The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) is one of the 15 largest in the world;
• Widespread use of advanced technologies in the banking sector, such as Internet technologies;
• Availability of an extensive network of well-organized telecommunication services;
• Provision of all types of telecommunication services and Internet services;
• South Africa's mobile services and IP market is one of the fastest growing in the world;
• Telcom, a South African telecommunications company with a backbone network, is constantly increasing its share of the fiber optic component, which allows increasing the speed and quality of telecommunications services;

• Modern transport infrastructure.

The number of railways and roads exceeds the similar averages of other African countries by 15 and 10 times, respectively.

• The presence of large commercial ports guaranteeing South Africa access to all maritime destinations: to Asia, Europe, America and other countries of the African continent.
• The presence of a powerful energy base.
• A constant surplus of electricity produced over consumption guarantees the future supply of an ever-increasing number of consumers.
• The consumption prices for electricity available throughout South Africa are among the lowest in the world.
• Progressive legislation aimed at attracting foreign capital.
• Investments are being attracted and advanced technologies are being introduced in all significant sectors of the South African economy.

The average value of return on investment has been steadily increasing since 1992, which became possible thanks to a significant increase in average labor productivity (in 1997, labor productivity growth was 4.32%, in 1998 - 4.56%).

South Africa is one of the top 25 exporters in the world. Incomes from foreign trade reach 50% of GDP, while the volume of exports exceeds the volume of imports.

The main trading partners of South Africa are the USA, Japan, Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy and Canada, and the turnover of foreign trade with these countries is increasing.

South Africa is one of the few countries with a unique dual system of property rights (public and private) for minerals. The restructuring of state enterprises, in which there is a redistribution of property rights from the state to private owners of enterprises, is especially noticeable in the mining industry. Another trend that is most noticeable in this sector of the economy is the merger of the largest companies and the monopolization of the market. Thus, more than 90% of diamond mining in South Africa is controlled by branches of the South African monopoly De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd.

South Africa is the world leader in the production of gold, platinum group metals, and holds the world's leading position in the production of diamonds and hard coal. The share of production of enterprises associated with the direct processing of minerals, including metal production, is approximately 14% of GDP. The share of exports of minerals in the total exports of South Africa, despite a gradual decline, is currently more than 33%.

Mechanical engineering is the largest sector of the South African economy, the main component of which is the automotive and machine tool industries owned by the largest foreign corporations.

Buses, trucks, trailers and semi-trailers, as well as spare parts for them, come off the conveyors of factories owned by leading automobile corporations in the USA, Japan, Western Europe, total number more than 200 items, 159 of which are produced by NAACAM. Component parts are supplied not only to the assembly plants of the country, but also to the markets of the USA, South America, Europe, the Far East and Africa.

In addition, in South Africa there are a number of enterprises for the production of sea and river vessels, railway cars and locomotives, aircraft, components and some special devices. This sector of the economy is dominated by a group of companies led by Dorbyl Ltd.

Conclusion

Despite the huge natural and human potential, Africa continues to be the most backward part of the world economy. Therefore, the main task of the current stage is to accelerate socio-economic transformations that contribute to the solution of complex demographic, food and environmental problems.

List of sources used

1Maksakovskiy, V.P. Economic and social geography of the world: textbook. for 10 cells. general education Institutions / V.P. Maksakovskiy. - 16th ed., Rev. - M. : Education, 2008. - 398 p.

2 Maksakovskiy, V.P. Geographical picture of the world. In 2 books. Book II: Regional characteristics of the world. - 2nd ed., stereotype. - M. : Bustard, 2005. - 480 p.

3 Economic analysis of countries [Electronic resource] - Access mode: http: // www. profishop.lv, free. - Zagl. from the screen.

4 Shkola.LV [Electronic resource] / Lessons / Economic geography - Access mode: http: // www. http://shkola.lv/index.php?mode=lsntheme&themeid=199&subid=303, free. - Zagl. from the screen.

Features of the EGP of Africa are the presence of a large number of countries located far from the seas and oceans (sometimes at a distance of 1.5 thousand km.). the equator crosses Africa almost in the middle and divides it into two parts, approximately equally located (to the north and south) in equatorial, tropical and subtropical latitudes; therefore, a huge amount of heat enters the entire territory of Africa evenly throughout the year, and the seasons in its northern and southern parts are opposite: while in the northern hemisphere it is summer, in the southern hemisphere it is winter. character geographical location provides the possibility of year-round navigation off the coast of Africa, since the seas washing it do not freeze

In terms of territory (more than 30 million sq. km) and the number of countries (54), Africa is the largest of the main geographical regions of the world. There are three monarchies in Africa: Morocco Lesotho Swaziland Africa has 4 federal states: South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Comoros

North Africa Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan Out to the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean and Red Seas Agriculture specializes in the production of subtropical crops: cotton, olives, citrus fruits, grapes Industry is associated with the extraction and processing of mineral raw materials: oil , phosphorites Sometimes Sev. Africa is called the Maghreb (from Arabic - "west") It ranks first in area among the subregions of Africa and the third in number

Western Africa Mauritania, Mali, Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Côte d, Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, Zap. Sahara, Togo. It ranks 4th in terms of territory and second in terms of population. The modern “face” of the subregion is determined by agriculture (mainly crop production) and mining (oil, bauxite, tin, iron ore)

Central Africa Chad, Central. African Republic, Cameroon, Gabon, Eq. Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, Congo, Democrat. Republican Congo, Angola. It ranks second in terms of territory and fourth in number One of the richest regions in terms of resources: oil, ores, color. Metals (copper, tin, cobalt, lead, zinc) Occupies the equatorial part of the mainland

Eastern Africa Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros, Malawi, Djibouti Ranks first in terms of population and third in terms of territory. It is distinguished by deposits of coal and copper.

South Africa Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland. It occupies the last place in terms of territory and population. It is rich in coal, iron. ores, manganese, chromites, uranium, gold, diamonds, asbestos. South Africa is the only economically developed country on the continent with a significant population of European origin.

According to the level of socio-economic development, all African countries, with the exception of South Africa, are classified as "developing countries"

Conclusions on the endowment of Africa with mineral resources: Africa has the richest and most diverse reserves of mineral resources. Among other continents, Africa ranks first in reserves of diamonds, gold, platinum, manganese, chromites, bauxites and phosphorites. Large reserves of coal, oil and natural gas, copper, iron, uranium, cobalt ores. Africa's minerals are of high quality and low production costs. Africa's richest country in minerals, South Africa, has an almost complete set of known mineral resources, with the exception of oil, natural gas, and bauxite. Africa's mineral resources are unevenly distributed. Among the countries of the region there are countries that are very poor in terms of resources (Chad, the Central African Republic, etc.), which greatly complicates their development.

African countries with the highest GDP (PPP) per capita (2010 US dollars) Gabon - 14,500 Botswana - 14,000 South Africa - 10,700 Tunisia - 9,600 Namibia - 6,900 For comparison: Tanzania - 1,500, Somalia - 600, D. Rep. . Congo - 300 world average - 11200 Africa average - 1100

Mining in Africa Type of products Main producers of the region South African gold Diamonds South Africa, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Guinea, Botswana Uranium Niger Cobalt ores Mozambique Chromites Botswana Manganese ores Gabon Phosphorites Morocco Copper ores Zambia, Zaire oil and gas Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Congo, Gabon

Conclusions on African Industry In the international division of labor, Africa is represented by extractive industry products; The production of the extractive industry has a pronounced export orientation, i.e., a weak connection with the local manufacturing industry; Among the manufacturing industries greatest development received textile and food.

In most African countries, the colonial type of sectoral structure of the economy is preserved. Its distinctive features are: the predominance of low-commodity, low-productive agriculture; weak development of the manufacturing industry; a strong backlog of transport; limiting the non-productive sphere mainly to trade and services; one-sidedness of economic development

Monoculture - mono-commodity specialization of the country's economy (narrow specialization in the production of one, as a rule, raw material or food product, intended mainly for export)

Plan for the characteristics of the EGP of Africa. The length and size of the territory and individual states. Changes in the EGP of the continent over time. Position in relation to the main economic centers of the world. The presence or absence of access to the seas. State structure of countries. Territorial disputes and regional conflicts. Political and economic unions, organizations. Scheme.

slide 6 from the presentation "Geography Lesson Africa". The size of the archive with the presentation is 2781 KB.

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West African countries

West Africa - part of the African continent, which is located south of the central Sahara and washed from the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, the natural border is the Cameroonian mountains.

A country	Population, million people	Capital
Benin	10,32	Porto-Novo
Burkina Faso	16,93	Ouagadougou
Islamic Republic of Gambia	1,849	banjul
Ghana	25,9	Accra
Guinea	11,75	Conakry
Guinea-Bissau	1,704	Bissau
Cape Verde	0,499	praia
Ivory Coast	20,32	Yamoussoukro
Liberia	4,294	Monrovia
Mauritania	3,89	Nouakchott
Mali	15,3	Bamako
Niger	17,83	Niamey
Nigeria	173,6	Abuja
Saint Helena, Ascension Island, Tristan da Cunha	0,005	Jamestown
Senegal	14,13	Dakar
Sierra Leone	6,092	Freetown
Togo	6,817	Lome

History of West Africa

The culture of this region has its roots in the ancient West African empires of Ghana, Mali and Sopgai, which flourished between the 6th and 16th centuries. These empires fell into decay, and small independent kingdoms appeared in their place. In the 15th century, Portuguese merchants sailed here, followed by the British, French and Dutch.

Over the next 400 years, Europeans continuously invaded here, founding colonies. The conquerors exploited people and land, built gold mines, set up plantations to grow coffee, coconuts, sugarcane and cotton, and forced Africans to work as slaves for them. Europeans took natives to America on ships, where they sold them into slavery to local planters. On the way, many died, and the survivors faced the painful life of slaves.

In 1807, Britain abolished slavery, but independence for these countries was still a long way off. Colonial authorities remained in West Africa until the middle of the 20th century. After that, military and dictatorial regimes were established in some countries. Today, many countries have become democratic.

EGP West Africa

The EGP of West Africa is characterized by a higher level of development compared to its eastern neighbor, but a lower level of development compared to North Africa. This region is one of the richest mineral resources in the world. Quite large reserves of manganese, tin, gold, diamonds, and iron ore are concentrated here. Significant oil and gas reserves. Nigeria is the largest oil supplier in the region.

Mangrove forests and mud flats stretch along the coast of West Africa. They are washed by warm rains brought from the ocean. Further from the shore, lagoons and coastal swamps give way to tropical rainforests that stretch for hundreds of kilometers.

Winding rivers are often the only means of communication, as the roads, already washed out during the rainy season, are swallowed up by the jungle. Evaporative forests cover the cooler central highlands. Rivers, breaking down from a great height into narrow gorges, form picturesque waterfalls. During the rains, the rivers flood the surrounding lands, giving off fertile silt, periodically washing away entire villages. And finally, the landscape turns into endless savannahs, shimmering under the hot sun.

Agriculture in West Africa

Despite the recent intensification of industrialization in the most developed countries of West Africa, agriculture in this region continues to be the basis of the economy. The main branches of agricultural production: nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralism, which is especially common in the Sahel zone.

In West Africa, cattle breeding is harmoniously combined with agriculture. Complementary industries increase the overall productivity of agriculture. The main crops grown are corn, sorghum, peanuts, palm oil, cotton.

Industry of West Africa

Industrial production is generally rather poorly developed. There is a preponderance towards the extractive industries. The main development was the mining industry and oil and gas production. The manufacturing industries are in the stage of initial development and are represented by the processing of mineral resources, textile production, cotton processing, and furniture manufacturing.

Some part of the population of West Africa works on modern machines on rubber plantations owned by foreign companies. The scarce land and arid climate make farming difficult, but priceless treasures are hidden in the land itself. Nigeria is one of the world's largest oil producers. Deposits of phosphorites, diamonds, bauxites and iron ore are the key to further prosperity.

Population of West Africa

The population of this region is about 300 million people. There is a rapid population growth, the birth rate exceeds 50 babies per 1,000 inhabitants. Consequently, West Africa is still in the second phase of its demographic transition.

Most of the population belongs to the Negroid race. In the northern part of Mali live the Berber-speaking Tuareg, belonging to the Mediterranean type of a large Caucasian race. Negroid peoples are: Fulbe, Diola, Wolof, Kisi, Serer, Senufo, etc.

In the cities of West Africa, people live in modern high-rise buildings or in wooden, tin-roofed houses. Many urban women leave daily for the countryside to work in the fields or livestock farms and poultry houses. Around the coastal lagoons, village houses with thatched roofs are built on stilts above the water. Fishermen and merchants living in these places travel by boat. Most West Africans live in rural areas and are rather poor farmers and herders. For themselves, they grow millet, cassava and rice. And cotton, peanuts and palm oil are sold.

East Africa. Economic and geographical characteristics

Table of contents

• Introduction
• General information
• Geographical position
• Natural conditions and resources
• Region population
• General information
• Demographic situation
• Economy of East Africa
• General information
• Agriculture
• Transport
• External Relations
• Conclusion
• Bibliography

Introduction

East Africa is a region of the world distinguished on the one hand by magnificent natural resources and attractions, on the other hand, one of the poorest regions in the world. Most of the countries in the region have a clearly agrarian-oriented economy. The exception is Zambia, which has an export-oriented economy based on the mining industry (extraction and export of copper).

The region occupies a large territory. This area is home to a significant portion of the African population. Therefore, the task of describing and studying this region is of particular relevance.

Thus, the purpose of this work was to study and analyze the current economic situation in the region, taking into account the specifics of the spatial organization as a resource economic system, and the placement of its main nodes.

General information

The East Africa region is located in the eastern part of the mainland and includes 10 states (Figure 1, Table 1) - Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia.

Table 1 - Composition of the East Africa region

The total area of ​​the region is 4,561,190 km2. The region has a population of 153,741,344 (2005).

Geographical position

The region is characterized by a fairly favorable geographical position. In economic terms, the region is located among the states characterized by a rather underdeveloped economy. However, in relation to the main mineral resource bases, the region has a fairly favorable position - in the northeast (Arabian Peninsula) and west (Gulf of Guinea) there are the richest oil and gas deposits, in the south there is a continuation of Africa's largest copper belt. In terms of transport, the region occupies a fairly advantageous position - proximity to the Suez Canal and the Red Sea provides quite significant potential benefits. Geopolitically, the situation is somewhat worsened by the situation among the poor countries of Africa, which are characterized by an extremely unstable political situation.

Figure 1 - East Africa: composition of the region

Natural conditions and resources

Tectonic and geomorphological conditions. Mineral resources

Tectonic-geomorphologically, the region is heterogeneous. The Ethiopian Highlands (Ethiopia, Eritrea) is a highly elevated block of the African Platform, which is characterized by high tectonic fragmentation and a variety of landscapes due to a clear separation of structural and morphological regions and altitudinal zonality. According to the degree of potential development, the region is difficult to access and poorly developed. The Somali Plateau in the east of the region is much smaller and much less indented, greatly increasing the potential for development. The East African Plateau (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) is a mobile, tectonically active part of the African Platform. The greatest rift system and the greatest heights of the mainland are concentrated here. The region is characterized by extremely difficult terrain and low levels of potential development.

In terms of the availability of mineral resources, the region belongs to the medium-provided region. There are no fuel and energy resources (natural gas, oil). An exception is the hard coal deposits in southwestern Zambia.

Metallic minerals are represented sufficiently. Gold deposits are located in the south of Ethiopia, in the west of Uganda, in the south of Zambia. A separate link in the spectrum of metallic minerals is copper ore. Widely known and of international importance is the so-called Copper Belt of Central Africa, which ends in Zambia. In addition to deposits of high-quality copper ore, deposits of polymetals (cobalt ores, nickel ores) are confined to this belt.

Non-metallic minerals are represented by diamond deposits in Tanzania (the Mwadui deposit), table salt (the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia).

Climatic conditions and agro-climatic resources

The region is climatically located in the subequatorial zone (a zone of sufficient moisture in the west, insufficient moisture in the east of Tanzania). The far north of Ethiopia, Tanzania and Eritrea lies in the tropical zone with an arid climate (Figure 2).

In agro-climatic terms, the region is confined to the tropical zone, characterized by continuous vegetation of plants throughout the year (it can only be interrupted by a dry period for a subequatorial climate with insufficient moisture). The tropical zone is characterized by the possibility of collecting several crops per year. Most of the region is within the isotherm of the sum of the air temperature for the period with temperatures above 10С more than 8000С. Under these conditions, heat-loving perennial and annual crops with the longest growing season (sugar cane, coffee, cocoa, cinchona, rubber plants, etc.) can be grown. The eastern part of Ethiopia and western Tanzania, as well as western Kenya and eastern Uganda, are within the isoline air temperatures for a period with temperatures above 10 C from 4000 C to 8000 C. These areas belong to the subtropical agro-climatic zone and are characterized by the possibility of growing heat-loving temperatures with a very long growing season (cotton, late corn, olives, citrus fruits, tobacco, tea, in some places date palm, etc. .).

Hydrological conditions and water resources

There are no major rivers in the region. However, small rivers, descending from the plateaus, develop a sufficiently high speed, which characterizes their hydropower potential as acceptable for the construction of hydroelectric power stations.

In terms of water resources, the region belongs to the poor enough ones. Ethiopia, Tanzania, Eritrea and Somalia are characterized by the availability of total river flow resources of 2.5 - 5 thousand m 3 per year, Kenya - 0.5 - 2.5 thousand m 3 per year. Zambia is characterized by the most favorable conditions for the provision of full river flow resources (10 - 25 thousand m 3 per year).

The region has the largest lakes on the mainland - Victoria, Nyasa, Tanganyika. The lakes have significant recreational potential, which is intensively used.

Vegetation and animal world. Land resources

The region is characterized by the presence of 3 natural zones - humid equatorial forests (west of the region), subequatorial forests and woodlands (Zambia, Malawi), wet savannahs (along river valleys), typical savannahs (Ethiopia), deserted savannahs (Somalia, Kenya).

In connection with the above, the land resources of the region are mainly grazing (this is due to the large spread of savannahs). Fragmentary there are forests that do not have an industrial value. Land suitable for cultivation has a small distribution.

east africa economic geographical

Figure 2 - Climatic zones of East Africa

( I - equatorial climate; II - Subequatorial climate: 1a - with sufficient moisture, 1b - with insufficient moisture; III - tropical climate )

Figure 3 - East African Land Resources

Region population

General information

The population of the region is 153,741,344 people (2005). The average population density is 33.7 people. / km 2. The largest population is typical for Kenya - 53,142,980 people, the smallest - for the Seychelles (73,000 people (2005).

Table 2 - Population density in East African countries

The highest population density is typical for the Seychelles, which is associated with a small area of ​​the state. The average indicators for states are small and poorly reflect the real situation.

Demographic situation

Birth rates in the region are quite high. The northern states of the region are characterized by birth rates from 40 to 45 ‰, for the southern states - from 45 to 50 ‰. At the same time, mortality rates are also high - from 15 to 20 ‰. The natural increase in the population of the region for the southern countries of the region is more than 30‰, for the northern - 25 - 30‰.

In the age and sex structure, women predominate, only in Kenya and Uganda there is a predominance of the male population.

Ethnic structure of the population

The southern part of the region is inhabited by the peoples of the Niger-Kardofan family of the subgroup of the central Niger-Congo - the peoples of Rwanda, Rundi, Congo, Luba, Malawi, etc. The peoples of the Kushite group of the Afroasian family - Oromo, Somali, Afar, Beja, etc. live in Ethiopia and Somalia. West The region is inhabited by representatives of the Eastern Sudanese group of the Nilo-Saharan family - Nubians, Dinka, Kalenjin, etc.

Thus, the ethnic structure of the studied region is characterized by considerable diversity.

Placement of the population. Urbanization

The region is rather unevenly populated. In the center of Ethiopia, in certain regions of Kenya, in the coastal zone of Lake Victoria, the population density reaches 100 - 200 people. per km 2. The rest of the region is rather poorly populated - the population density is from 1 to 10 people. per km 2.

The region belongs to the least urbanized parts of the world - the level of urbanization for most countries is from 10 to 20%. The exception is Zambia. Zambia is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa, about 44% of its population is concentrated in large cities and urban industrial agglomerations.

Economy of East Africa

General information

Leading role in Ethiopian economy played by consumer agriculture. In the early 1990s, more than half of the gross domestic product (GDP) came from agricultural production. During the same period, the share of trade and services in GDP grew. From 1989-1990 to 1994-1995 financial years, the annual growth in the share of services in GDP was 2.4%. In fiscal year 1993-1994, the service sector accounted for 22% of GDP (data include economic indicators for Eritrea). Until recently, Ethiopia was one of the poorest countries in the world, and its economy developed slowly. In the period from 1960 to 1974, the average annual growth in production did not exceed 4%. Revolutionary upheavals led to the fact that this figure in 1974-1979 fell to 1.4%. Due to rapid population growth, per capita output in 1985-1995 decreased annually by an average of 0.3%. During this decade, the population growth rate averaged 2.6% per year. Severe droughts and civil war also greatly affected the deterioration of living conditions. In the early 1990s, there were signs of an economic recovery. From 1989-1990 to fiscal years 1994-1995, the average GDP growth rate was 1.9%. In fiscal year 1996-1997, GDP increased by 7%. The main factor in improving the economic situation was foreign loans and financial assistance.

Economy Zambia depends on world prices for copper - the main export product of the country. In the 1960s and 1970s, copper export earnings enabled the government to maintain a relatively high standard of living (compared to many African countries). As a result of a significant increase in oil import costs, a significant drop in world prices for copper and the mistakes of the economic policy of the government of K. Kaunda, Zambia already in the 80s faced a whole range of financial and economic problems. The inept implementation in the 90s of the IMF's programs for the structural restructuring of the economy led to an increase in unemployment and a further increase in inflation. The government of L. Mwanawasa is making efforts to curb negative trends in economic development. There is a process of privatization of state-owned companies. According to official government data, in 1991-2002, 257 (out of 280 scheduled for transfer into private hands) state and semi-state enterprises were privatized. 56% of the privatized companies were acquired by Zambian entrepreneurs. In 2001-2002, foreign investments in the country's economy exceeded 100 million US dollars annually. Zambia receives financial assistance from the IMF under two programs - PRGF (a program to help fight poverty and accelerate economic growth, it received 110 million US dollars in 2002) and HIPC (a program for the most indebted poor countries, it received 155 million dollars in 2002). .3 million USD). In January 2003, L. Mwanawasa unveiled a national development transition plan through 2005.

Somalia - economically backward and poor country. It has scarce mineral resources, the basis of the country's economy is mainly nomadic and semi-nomadic animal husbandry. About 80% of the able-bodied population is employed in agriculture, mainly in animal husbandry; the sale of live cattle, meat products and skins brings the country over 80% of the total amount of export earnings. The share of industrial production in the national economy is very insignificant, and mineral resources do not pay off the costs of their development. Two factors adversely affected the state of the country's economy in the second half of the 1970s: first, a severe drought, which significantly reduced the number of livestock, and then the war with Ethiopia, as a result of which a flow of refugees from Ethiopia to Somalia numbered up to one million people. Even more damage was done to the country's economy by the inter-clan struggle that unfolded after the overthrow of the Siad Barre regime in 1991.

Kenya- an agricultural country, but its economy is different from the economy of many other countries in Africa. Kenya has not one but several export crops and has modern industry tourism and a developed manufacturing industry. During the colonial period, trade and commercial agriculture were in the hands of Europeans and Asians. The government of independent Kenya contributed to the strengthening of the role of Africans in all these areas.

The model of socialism adopted in Tanzania after gaining independence, was based on two basic principles - self-reliance and equal distribution of social wealth. Implementation of this model was fraught with great difficulties and proved untenable mainly due to the focus of the Tanzanian economy on the export of agricultural products. Despite the arid climate and other adverse natural conditions, agriculture is the backbone of Tanzania's economy.

In the 1970s, the country's economy developed at a relatively fast pace, which was associated with high world prices for Tanzanian export products. The policy of forced creation of "socialist villages" led to the alienation of the peasants from the land, and the rate of growth slowed down. In the late 1970s, Tanzania entered a period of economic crisis. The fall in world prices for Tanzanian exports, the global oil crisis and the burdensome war with Uganda led to a balance of payments disruption. Domestic political factors also played an important role. The state systematically underpaid the peasants for export products and accumulated a significant part of the income from exports. Therefore, the peasants faced a dilemma: either to produce less products, or to sell a significant part of it on the black market. The economy of the socialist type also assumed the presence of political restrictions on economic activity. The Arusha Declaration of 1967 forbade party functionaries and government officials from engaging in entrepreneurship and using hired labor. Despite the efforts of the Tanzanian leadership to prevent the personal enrichment of the party elite and civil servants, the economic crisis of the 1980s gave rise to a large-scale shadow economy. Party workers and government officials, faced with the inability to live on their salaries, took up entrepreneurial activities. Experts note that it is difficult to objectively assess the state of the Tanzania economy, since it is almost impossible to determine the scale of the shadow economy.

In the early 1980s, the Tanzanian government made several attempts to adjust economic policies, but this did not help the ailing socialist economy. In 1986, Tanzania negotiated with the IMF in order to obtain loans for the restructuring of the country's economy. The agreement reached meant a radical change in the country's economic course, since the conditions for granting loans provided for the rejection of socialist methods of management. Like most reform countries, Tanzania is privatizing the public sector of agriculture and industry. The IMF also demanded trade liberalization and devaluation of the Tanzanian shilling. In recent years, as a result of the curtailment of social programs, the peasants have lost state support, and now they have to rely only on themselves.

Tanzania is still a predominantly agricultural country, with 85% of the rural population employed in the agricultural sector. In 1997, agricultural exports accounted for 60% of all export earnings. Although the IMF has named Tanzania as a successful economic restructuring country, the actual results are at best half-hearted. For the majority of peasants, production oriented to the domestic market often does not even provide a living wage.

Throughout the 19th century main exports Uganda were ivory and animal skins. Completion in 1901 of a railway line from Mombasa to the coast indian ocean to Kisumu (in modern Kenya) on the lake. Victoria has reduced the cost of transporting exported goods. Missionaries and the protectorate's colonial authorities experimented with growing several crops. The choice was made in favor of cotton. Its first harvest was obtained in 1904, and in the next decade the collection increased so much that from 1915 the British Treasury stopped subsidizing the administrative apparatus of the protectorate.

At the same time, the authorities strongly encouraged the development of plantation farms of white settlers, who specialized in the production of rubber and coffee. By 1920, there were over 200 such farms in Uganda with a total area of ​​51,000 hectares, although almost three-fourths of these lands were not cultivated. When in 1920-1921 there was a fall in world prices for rubber and cotton, many white settlers were on the verge of bankruptcy and ceased production. In this situation, at the beginning of 1923, the authorities decided to support the small farms of African peasants. Thus, unlike Kenya and Zimbabwe, Uganda avoided many of the problems associated with the dominance of white settlers in the economy. In the 1920s, African farmers in Uganda began to grow coffee, and in the 1950s this crop became a major source of export earnings, pushing cotton into the background.

During the colonial period and the first decade after independence, the government played a key role in economic planning. In the 1950s, major infrastructure projects such as the Owen Falls power station on the river were built by the government or with its participation. Victoria Nile in the Jinji region and the Kilembe copper pyrite mine in the far west of the country. The government created public corporations to fund development projects and streamlined cooperatives, disbanding those that were organized without a government license. Through the creation of state cooperatives, African farmers have been able to accumulate enough funds to purchase coffee processing and cotton ginning enterprises. During the period of independence, both legally elected and military representatives of Uganda significantly expanded the public sector and the scope of state regulation of the economy. This process continued until the late 1980s, when the government of the National Resistance Movement (DNM) began to reduce the regulatory role of the state in the economy: it stopped the practice of setting purchase prices for agricultural raw materials and initiated a program of selling state-owned enterprises into private hands. The government of the DNS abandoned the administrative regulation of the exchange rate of the national currency.

In 1971-1986, the national economy was destroyed by the pernicious policies of the military regime of Idi Amin and two wars that were fought within six years after the overthrow of the dictatorship. The expulsion of Indians from Uganda, who owned 90% of private sector enterprises, carried out in 1972 on the orders of Amin, practically destroyed it. During the reign of Amin, the economy continued to degrade due to the lawlessness that prevailed in the country, the expropriation of private property, the inability of the government to pay off the peasants for export products and maintain roads in order. The 1979 war, which overthrew Amin's dictatorial regime, led to a widespread increase in looting, which caused economic damage no less than Amin's rule itself. The process of returning to civilian rule led to a new war in the central part of the country, which created serious obstacles to economic recovery. This entire period was characterized by rising inflation, corruption and domestic political instability. An economic revival began in the 1990s.

Seven months after coming to power, the Musaveni government began to pursue an economic course focused on the restoration of the public sector. This led to inflation unprecedented in the history of Uganda. In 1987, Uganda agreed to an economic restructuring program proposed by the World Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Up until 1999, the government generally adhered to the recommendations of international financial institutions.

In 1987-1997, Uganda achieved impressive economic success: the average annual GDP growth was at the level of 6%. In 1997 Uganda's GDP was approx. 6.5 billion dollars, and the annual income per capita - 320 dollars, which, taking into account purchasing power, exceeded 1,500 dollars. The share of money income was 77% of GDP. Thanks to strict and consistent economic policies, annual inflation dropped from 200% in 1988 to 6-10% in the mid-1990s. A significant incentive for investment in commercial agriculture in the 1990s was the road construction program. By 1999, the country had largely approached or even surpassed the level of crop production (with the exception of cotton) achieved in 1972.

Fuel and energy complex

Ethiopia has a powerful hydropower potential, which is estimated at about 60 billion kWh, which, however, is practically not used.

In the 70s Zambia completely self-sufficient in electricity and even began to export it to neighboring Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then Zaire). Several power plants were built - Kafue George, Kariba North, etc. However, the share of wood is about 50% of the fuel and energy balance of Zambia. Only 17% of the population is provided with electricity. Residents of most villages and even cities still use wood and charcoal for cooking and heating their homes. The Government attaches high priority to the electrification of rural areas. In 1998, the World Bank approved a $75 million loan to finance a project to modernize the Zambian energy industry.

In 1989 in the energy balance Kenya about 80% was wood, and among the remaining 20%, a significant part was oil, which was imported from the United Arab Emirates. Currently, 14% of the electricity required by the country is supplied by hydroelectric power plants on the river. Tana. Other power plants run on petroleum products; in addition, a geothermal station operates in the Olkaria area. A small amount of energy comes from the Owen Falls hydroelectric plant in Uganda. As a result of the widespread use of wood as an energy source, forest area decreased by 11% between 1975 and 1990. Forests are cut down to use the vacated land for arable land, and the wood is used for fuel and used in housing construction.

90% of the energy needs of the population and small enterprises Uganda are satisfied by wood, mainly charcoal. In 1999, the capacity of the Owen Falls hydroelectric power station was increased from 180 to 240 thousand kW (in 1996, due to a decrease in domestic demand for electricity, it was reduced to 60 thousand kW). Uganda has no oil refining industry at all. In 1996, oil imports cost the country $91 million.

mining industry

Bosom Ethiopia poorly studied. Gold mining, mainly from poor deposits in the south and west, has long been a side industry for the local population. Since the late 1960s, the development of rich gold deposits near Kybre-Mengist (Adola) in the state of Sidamo has contributed to the growth of production of this metal. In the 1970s, gold production declined, but in 1986 it amounted to 923 kg. Recently, a gold deposit with a capacity of about 500 tons was discovered in the Laga-Dembi place in the Wallega region. Iron ore is mined and processed on a modest scale. Significant deposits of iron ore and coal have been discovered in the areas of Wallega, Illubabor and Shoa, but development has not yet come to fruition there. There are reports that the subsoil of Ethiopia, primarily in the Ogaden and Gambel, contains significant reserves of oil and gas, and exploration work has been carried out there since the late 1980s. Table salt is mined in the country, but it is not enough to meet domestic needs. Deposits have been explored or mining is underway on a small scale of other minerals: copper, sulfur, potassium salt, platinum, oil, marble, mica, cinnabar and manganese.

The mining industry began to develop in Zambia even during the colonial period. The mining of copper ore is the main industry. A significant part of the Copper Belt (Copperbelt) is located on the territory of the country. Potentially the richest copper deposits are located near the Konkola area, which has 44.4 million tons of ore reserves. By 1969 the country had become the world's leading producer of crude copper. However, by the mid-1970s, copper smelting and income from its exports had noticeably decreased (due to falling copper prices on the world market). In 1996, the mining industry accounted for 10.8% of GDP and employed about 10% of the entire workforce. Extraction of purified copper in 2002 amounted to 309.7 thousand tons, and cobalt - 3.8 thousand tons. According to the Central Bank of Zambia, copper exports in 2002 amounted to 303.9 thousand tons (in 2001 - 271.8 thousand tons). The growth in production and export of copper is caused by the demand for it from China. In 2002, a new copper deposit was discovered in Solwezi, the reserves of which are estimated at 481 million metric tons. Cobalt, zinc, lead, gold, silver, selenium, and marble are mined from other minerals in the country. Emeralds, aquamarines, amethysts and a small amount of diamonds are mined. Zambian malachite is widely known in the world, especially the most valuable of its species - turquoise. In the mid-1990s, a significant proportion of the emeralds on the international market were of Zambian origin. In 1992, a new diamond deposit was discovered in the Western Province, in 2002 - in the Eastern Province. According to the department of geology, De Beers specialists have discovered about 100 kimberlite pipes in Zambia over the past 30 years. A serious problem for the government is the illegal export of precious stones. In 1999, about 70% of Zambian emeralds were taken out of the country illegally.

Uganda has limited mineral resources. Reserves of copper ore are estimated at 4 million tons, reserves of nickel, gold, tin, tungsten, bismuth and phosphorites are much less. The copper ore deposits in the Rwenzori mountain range were intensively exploited until 1979, when the work was stopped due to the fall in world copper prices and the unstable situation during the reign of Amin. In 1970, 17 thousand tons of copper were produced. It is planned to annually extract up to 1 thousand tons of cobalt from dumps formed over many years of copper pyrite mining. In the southwestern part of the country, deposits of other minerals are being developed on a small scale. Foreign companies conducted gold prospecting in the northeast and southeast of Uganda and oil exploration at the bottom of lakes Albert and Edward.

Manufacturing industry

Manufacturing industry in Ethiopia underdeveloped, and in the 1993-1994 financial year, the share of its products in GDP was only 7%. Mainly there are enterprises for processing agricultural products and light industry. The main products of the manufacturing industry are textiles, food (sugar, flour, pasta, biscuits, canned meat and tomatoes), beer, shoes, cement, soap, alcoholic drinks, medicines and vegetable oils. Artisans make clothes, wood crafts, carpets and jewelry. Many manufacturing industries are concentrated near the urban centers of Addis Ababa, Harare and Dire Dawa. In 1975 the government nationalized 72 industrial enterprises and acquired the majority of shares in 29 enterprises. Industrial development is hampered by a shortage of electricity.

The development of industry depends on investments, primarily foreign ones. In order to attract foreign investors, a government decree was issued in 1950, according to which all new enterprises were exempted from paying taxes for the first five years. The decree provided that capital equipment could be imported into Ethiopia without paying customs duties that the participation of the Ethiopian side will be minimized, and the investor has the right to transfer profits in foreign currency from Ethiopia abroad in proportion to the invested capital.

In 1975 the government nationalized large industrial enterprises, as well as banks, financial institutions and insurance companies. The socialist policy of the government provided for the functioning of three sectors in the Ethiopian economy. The main branches of industry passed into state ownership, natural resources and public utilities. The mixed public-private sector included mining, paper and plastics, construction of large facilities, tourism, i.e. those areas that Ethiopia could not develop without the participation of foreign capital. The third sector of the economy, representing an extensive field of activity for private capital, included wholesale, retail and foreign trade, land transport, except for the railway, the food industry, the hotel business, and small enterprises of various profiles. At the same time, many private firms were nationalized.

The average annual growth rate in the industrial sector decreased from 6.4% in 1965-1973 to 3.8% in 1980-1987. From 1989-1990 to 1994-1995 financial years, the average annual growth rate of industrial production was 1.6%. However, there have been positive developments in the industry in recent years. Its share in GDP in the 1993-1994 financial year increased to 7.1%, and in the 1994-1995 financial year - up to 8%. While the state still owns and operates some large industrial and commercial enterprises, the government has increased private investment in the economy and limited the economic role of the state.

Manufacturing industry in Zambia It is represented by several factories for the processing of agricultural raw materials, the production of beverages, cigarettes and paper. Trucks of Toyota, Mitsubishi and Volkswagen brands are assembled in Ndola.

Somalia is mainly engaged in the processing of agricultural raw materials (production of canned meat, sugar refining, leather tanning). Textile factories use local and imported cotton. Among the new industries are cement and oil refineries. About 4/5 of the country's industrial enterprises are included in the public sector of the economy. Industry employs 6% of the economically active population.

underdeveloped manufacturing industry Uganda significant damage was done during the years of internal political instability. Despite the growth of manufacturing in 1987-1997 from 5% to 9%, it still makes up an insignificant part of GDP. The country is forced to import most of its industrial products. Uganda's economy is highly vulnerable and dependent on world prices for the goods it exports and imports. Most large enterprises- factories for the processing of agricultural products: coffee, tea, sugar, tobacco, edible oils, cereals, milk and cotton. In addition, there are facilities for the production of beer and soft drinks, car assembly plants, textile factories, a copper and steel mill, cement, soap, shoes, furniture and animal feed factories. The work of many enterprises is disorganized due to the lack of spare parts, interruptions in the supply of raw materials, unsatisfactory transport and low productivity. Nevertheless, the textile industry has significantly increased output.

Agriculture

The temperate climate, fertile soils and abundant rainfall in most of the Ethiopian highlands create favorable conditions for the development of agriculture in Ethiopia. The main crops are wheat grown at higher altitudes in cooler climates, corn, millet and cereals grown at lower altitudes, as well as crops such as durro (a type of sorghum), teff (a type of millet with small grains, used for baking bread) and dagussa (from which black bread is baked). Coffee is an important export crop. In the 1994-1995 financial year, its share in export earnings was 66%. A significant part of the coffee crop is harvested on plantations in the state of Kefa. Other crops are cotton, date palm, sugar cane, beans and peas, oilseeds, chat (the leaves of which contain the drug), castor beans, fruits and vegetables.

Agriculture is a vital industry for Ethiopia. In 1996, it employed 85% of the working-age population, and agricultural production accounted for more than 50% of GDP. Most of the peasants run a consumer economy, many of them are nomadic pastoralists. At least half of the country's land is suitable for agriculture, including vast unused land in the south. In early 1975, the military government nationalized all land in the countryside, promising to distribute it among the peasants. The area of ​​a private individual land plot should not exceed 10 hectares, the use of hired labor was prohibited. Peasant associations were created by government decree to carry out land reform. One such association united an average of 200 peasant households, initially the associations were given the right to resolve all land issues. Later, their powers were significantly expanded, including judicial functions (minor administrative and criminal offenses), maintaining order, and exercising local self-government. In 1979 the government announced plans to transform peasant associations into collective agricultural production associations.

The 17 years of Derg's rule had a detrimental effect on the agricultural sector. Labor productivity has plummeted due to the regime's attempts to force collectivization and set low state purchase prices for agricultural products. The implementation of programs to create new villages and the forced resettlement of peasants disorganized social and economic life in the Ethiopian village. The EPRDF, which overthrew the dictatorial regime of Mengystu Haile Mariam in May 1991, abolished state control over prices for agricultural products. The transitional government gave farmers the right to set minimum guaranteed prices for their crops. However, the authorities retained public ownership of the land.

Most of the territory of the Ethiopian plains, due to the lack of irrigation, is suitable only for pasture cattle breeding. Herds of cattle (mainly zebu), sheep and goats, as well as horses, donkeys and mules (the latter are highly valued as a vehicle for transporting goods and people), accompanied by shepherds, wander from place to place in search of food. Even despite the mediocre quality of the dressing, hides and skins are an important export item. In 1996, Ethiopia had about 30 million cattle, 22 million sheep, 16.7 million goats, 5.2 million donkeys, 2.75 million horses, 630,000 mules and 1 million camels. .

Since ancient times, important caravan routes passed through the territory of Ethiopia. The development of modern modes of transport began with the construction of the Franco-Ethiopian railway from Djibouti to Addis Ababa (since 1981 it became known as the Ethiopian-Djiboutian). Upon completion of construction in 1917, its length was 782 km (including 682 km in Ethiopia).

Zambia- agricultural country. Agriculture employs 50% of the economically active population. The area of ​​fertile land is 47% of the country's territory, but only 6% is cultivated. A variety of climatic conditions makes it possible to grow many agricultural crops: corn, cassava, wheat, millet, melons, fruits, cotton, sorghum, soybeans, tobacco, sunflower, rice, etc. Due to the growth in the 90s of fruit exports to Europe at a rapid pace horticulture develops. Cattle breeding is developed in the southern and central regions. The country is dominated by subsistence farming. Relatively few farms producing marketable products (several hundred large plantation farms owned and managed by Europeans). The productivity of African peasant farms is extremely low due to backward agricultural technology, infertile soils and frequent droughts. Frequent droughts cause serious damage. Agriculture is inefficient, the country is forced to import food (mainly corn). In 2003 (for the first time in the last 10 years) an unprecedentedly high corn crop was harvested - 1.1 million tons.

Somalia forced to buy abroad significant amounts of food, primarily grain. Animal husbandry - breeding of cattle, camels, goats and sheep - is widespread in the northern and central regions of the country. Farming is developed in the southern regions, where important crops such as corn, sorghum, cassava, sesame, citrus fruits, sugarcane and cotton are grown. The only export crop is bananas, which are cultivated in the valleys and interfluves of the Jubba and Webi Shabelle. Crop development in much of Somalia is hampered by a lack of irrigation and drought protection measures.

The main branch of the economy Uganda is agriculture. With the exception of sugar cane, which is grown on plantations, all other crops are cultivated on small farms. For most of them, the hoe remains the main tool of labor, mechanization tools are rarely used. The main part of the products produced by the peasants is consumed by their families, the rest is sold on the domestic market or exported. Famine often occurs in different parts of Uganda, but in general the country is self-sufficient in food. The main crops are bananas in the south and west, millet or corn in the west, north and southeast, cassava in the northwest. Sweet potatoes, sorghum, legumes are grown everywhere.

Coffee is cultivated mainly in the central and western regions of the country. In 1996, a record export volume of this crop was recorded - 250 thousand tons. In 1997, 18.3 thousand tons of tea were exported. The main tea production area is the west of Uganda. In the same year, the export of tobacco grown in the northwest amounted to 9.2 thousand tons. Cotton is grown throughout the country, but the most favorable conditions for it exist in the north and east. In 1996, 20.7 thousand tons of cotton were harvested - significantly less than in the early 1970s. In 1997, the number of cattle amounted to 5.5 million heads, sheep - 1 million and goats - 6.3 million heads. Fishing is carried out in inland waters, in 1996 222 thousand tons were caught. In the 1990s, new freezing plants were built, which made it possible to export fish.

Despite the expansion of agricultural exports in the 1990s, coffee still remains the main export item. The production of traditional export crops - tea and tobacco - is gradually being restored, the collection of which fell sharply in the 1970s. If in the 1980s the share of coffee in exports was 95%, by 1998 it had dropped to 56%. The reason for this should be sought both in the increase in exports of tea (4%) and cotton (3%), and in the emergence of new export items - fish (7%) and gold (5%). Most of the gold comes to Uganda from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the 1990s, government investment was directed towards creating markets for grains, legumes, cut flowers, sesame, cocoa and vanilla.

From 1987 to 1997, the share of agriculture in GDP fell from 55% to 43%. As peace returned to much of the country, many Ugandans who used to rely on subsistence agriculture to support themselves are now free to devote themselves to other pursuits. Nevertheless, the share of food crops in total agricultural production in 1997 was 58%. The export of agricultural products, fish and skins in the same year provided the country with approx. 90% of foreign exchange earnings.

Transport

Before the start of the Italian occupation in Ethiopia several highways were built, the Italians left behind many new roads. During the Italo-Ethiopian war, transport infrastructure, especially bridges, suffered significant damage, and the repair of roads and their maintenance fell heavily on the state budget. The imperial government was well aware of the role of reliable communications in strengthening the central government and consolidating the country. In 1995, the total length of paved roads was 23.8 thousand km. The expansion of the road network was financed from the state budget and foreign aid. In 1995, the Ethiopian government announced the start of a road construction program, which was subsidized mainly by loans from the EU and the World Bank.

After the Second World War, a merchant marine fleet was created, and air transportation began. Aircraft of the Ethiopian state airline fly to all states of the country, and also connect Addis Ababa with the countries of Europe, Asia and Africa. In 1989, the volume of air transportation carried out by the Ethiopian airline was almost half that carried by all other African airlines. There are three international airports in the country (in Addis Ababa, Bahr Dar and Dire Dawa), domestic airports are available in all administrative centers and a number of large cities. The creation of civil aviation was made possible thanks to loans provided to Ethiopia by the US Export-Import Bank and the American Development Fund. Other types of transport services include intercity bus routes and transportation by boats on the Tana and Abay lakes and along the river. Baro. After Eritrea left Ethiopia in May 1993, the country lost the ports of Massawa and Assab on the Red Sea. However, the Eritrean government granted Ethiopia the right to use the port of Assab for receiving humanitarian aid to the starving and for foreign trade operations.

An integral part of the modernization of Ethiopia was the expansion of internal telephone communications. The first telephone lines were laid during the reign of Emperor Menelik II and later, primarily during the Italian occupation, the telephone network was significantly expanded. Since the early 1950s, the telephone and telegraph have connected Ethiopia with other countries in the world.

At the time of independence (1964) Zambia had one railway line and a single paved road. In 2003, the total length of railways was 2.24 thousand km. Two major railway lines, the Zambia Railways network, cross the country from north to south and link to National Railways Zimbabwe. The total length of motor roads in 2003 was 68.8 thousand km, including 7.3 thousand km of main paved highways. In 1997, the government launched an extensive 10-year road construction program funded by the World Bank. In 2003, there were more than 100 airports, airfields and runways in the country. The international airport (opened in 1967) is located 22.5 km from Lusaka. External and internal air passenger and transport services are carried out by private airlines. Zambia has the port of Mpulungu, located on Lake Tanganyika.

Railways and roads Kenya concentrated mainly in the south of the country. The main rail line runs from Mombasa, a deep water port on the Indian Ocean coast, through Nairobi to Uganda. There are also several side lines, the total length of railways is about 3 thousand km. The main cities are connected by a network of roads passing at any time of the year, with a total length of 70 thousand km (10% - with a hard surface). The highway connects Nairobi with Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Airports of international importance are located in the vicinity of Nairobi and Mombasa. In 1996, the national airline "Kenya Airways" was privatized and incorporated into the airline KLM in order to expand the network of air services.

IN Somalia there is a developed network of roads, mostly without a hard surface. The main road links Mogadishu and Hargeisa. Mogadishu has an international airport. The main seaports are Mogadishu, Berbera and Kismayo.

Total length of roads Tanzania is 90 thousand km, of which 18 thousand km are paved. The length of railways is 3.5 thousand km. The largest seaports in Tanzania are Dar es Salaam and Tanga. Coastal shipping is developed along the coast. There are three international airports - Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar.

Roads Uganda, once the envy of other African countries, fell into disrepair by the end of the 1980s. International financial organizations provided funds for the restoration of the destroyed road network. The total length of paved roads is 2.8 thousand km, unpaved roads 23.7 thousand km. The main railway links Kampala with the copper mining center of Kasese in the west, the cities of Jinja (with a copper smelter) and Tororo in the east, and the port of Mombasa on the Indian Ocean coast in Kenya. The construction of its northern branch from Tororo to Pakvachu, located on the river. Albert Nile near the lake. Albert, was completed only in 1964. By 1999, all passenger trains were suspended, except for the route from Kampala to Kenya. Delivery of the country's export cargo from the port of Mombasa is carried out both by road and by rail.

The only international airport is located near Kampala in Entebbe. In 1976, after the liquidation of the regional airline "East African Airlines", the national airline "Uganda Airlines" was created. Navigation is developed on lakes Victoria, Albert and Kyoga, however, communication between the settlements of Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, located on the shores of Lake. Victoria, in recent years, has been associated with considerable difficulties due to the rapid overgrowth of its water area with hyacinths, especially within the ports.

Uganda's information network is underdeveloped, but is expanding rapidly. In 1986-1996, the number of postal items within the country increased by 50% and reached 6.8 million, the number of letters abroad - by 20%, reaching 3.3 million. During the same period, the number of telephone subscribers increased by 30%, to 76 500. In 1993, there was only one telephone per 1,000 people. An independent press is being activated in the country, which is almost entirely concentrated in Kampala. The largest circulation of 40 thousand copies has a daily newspaper "New Vision", published in English. This state-owned publication is given a lot of freedom in submitting editorials and other materials. The first issue of the newspaper was published in 1986. Its main competitor is the daily newspaper in English "Monitor" with about the same number of readers. The leading newspaper in the Mpanda language is Munno, published since 1911.

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