| 2008 | Percentage change since 2007 | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (est)* | 774.1 million | 2.6% |
| GDP (est)* | $1.0 trillion | N/A |
| Canadian Merchandise Exports | $2.2 billion | 14.0% |
| Canadian Services Exports | N/A | N/A |
| Canadian Merchandise Imports | $5.3 billion | 49.7% |
| Canadian Services Imports | N/A | N/A |
| CDIA | N/A | N/A |
| FDI | N/A | N/A |
All GDP figures in the tables are quoted at current prices, whereas annual percentage changes of GDP are calculated at constant prices
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa is composed of Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic the of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Canada's trade with countries in sub-Saharan Africa continues to grow, although the bulk of two-way trade takes place with just a small number of these countries. Angola and South Africa rank first and second with two-way trade of $2.9 billion and $1.8 billion respectively. Two-way merchandise trade for 2008 was approximately $7.6 billion, with exports accounting for $2.2 billion and imports for $5.3 billion. Canadian exports to the region remain concentrated in cereals, machinery, motor vehicles, and salt and sulfur.
Between 2003 and 2008, 122 contracts valued at US$47.5 million were awarded to Canadian firms and individuals under projects financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB). Canadian firms are well positioned on AfDB consulting services contracts, but have been less successful in contracts for goods and equipment supply and for construction work. In 2008, Canada was the top contract recipient, winning 15 contracts worth C$13.6 million (equivalent to 4.2% of the number of contracts and 11.2% of the value of all contracts awarded that year). In 2007, Canada secured 20 contracts worth C$14.2 million (equivalent to 4.1% of the number of contracts and 9.6% of the value of all consulting contracts awarded that year). Between 2003 and 2008, Canadian firms were awarded 630 contracts financed by the World Bank through the International Development Agency and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. These contracts are valued at US$336 million.
Mining is the face of Canada in many African countries, with Canadian investors making up the largest foreign and most important non-African investors in the continent’s mining sector. Resource-based investments are the driving force behind the value-added components of the merchandise trade and services accounts. Much of the exploration and production technology, as well as the consulting engineering expertise, for these operations originates in Canada. Estimates from Natural Resources Canada indicate that, in 2008 cumulative Canadian mining assets in Africa were close to C$20.8 billion.
Market Access Achievements
- A double taxation agreement was recently signed with Gabon.
Market Access Plans and Priorities
- Develop FIPAs and double taxation agreements with key sub-Saharan countries.
