Is ‘Made in Africa’ possible? | Helen Hai | TEDxBeijing

When thinking about Africa, words like be “War”, “Disease”, “Corruption”, and “Safari” may come to mind. But this is not truly Africa. In this TEDxBeijing Talk, Helen Hai, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization Goodwill Ambassador for industrialization in Africa, brings out the often overlooked side of Africa through three personal stories. Helen explains why she chose Ethiopia, which ranked 125th in World Bank Doing Business Report at the time, as the location to start a shoe factory. Secondly, the problems she encountered when doing business in Africa. Lastly, how her childhood experiences triggered her to help Ethiopia find the right path of development, and change the lives of many local people.
CEO of the Made in Africa Initiative, which advises the governments of Ethiopia, Rwanda and Senegal for industrialization and investment promotion. Ambassador Hai is Co-Founder of C&H Garments, which is a pioneer Pan-African export-oriented garments manufacturer with presence in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Senegal.
Ambassador Hai was trained as an actuary in the United Kingdom with 15 years of international experience in FTSE100 companies. She served previously as Vice President and Chief Actuary for Zurich Financial Services in China, and a Partner in Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group in London. Ambassador Hai was named a 2015 Global Young Leader by World Economic Forum and received the 2015 African Business Icon Award.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@orangindonesia1996]

Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, uganda has everything to become African economic powerhouse. those countries doesn't relly to oil and minerals to develop their economy. infact they emphasize on human capital to generate economy. I believe in the midst of this century east African countries could be African Powerhouse just like east Asian countries did for Asia. shalom from Indonesia

[@bantuvoicemuchaikinuthia2536]

Great analysis...I see you know a lot about Kenya..

[@trr7128]

It's already happening.

[@atwilliams8]

Dont forget about Nigeria and S. Africa.

[@prissieke]

No wonder nobody has attacked us like they have the west and south

[@DrixMaloneDFS]

@@prissieke Huhhh...

[@curioslywithvictormakau]

Why can't Africa manufacture its own? Do Outsiders have to come and start factories here, then we say that it is Africa manufacturing?

[@cooloong]

Yes, African can manifacture its own. But before that, do they have the following: Money, Skilled labor, Techology, Infrastructure, Mordern Corporate culture... Etc? If not, then they only way to get these is to get help from, import from and learn from foreigners. Tell me if you have a better idea.

[@yuioyup]

@@cooloong yes they do

[@Jayyyy5454]

Africa manufactures its own products. We have also invented some pretty impressive stuff

[@Jabulanification]

OOOH HOW Lucky we are to have so many good samaritans who want to help Afrika, First the Europeans, now the Chinese - we are so lucky

[@nthigakagendo4228]

Sarcasm

[@empoweringyouthdevelopment1488]

Lets there intentions are grest and beneficial africa is the motherland.2❤🌈✌☀️!fk

[@Didmasela]

African investors need to come on board too in order to allow a win-win investment. One negative aspect is profit repatriation. Buy at least local Ethiopians are employed.

[@nsudatta-roy8154]

African people have no one to blame, but themselves. Africans of means are not interested in building from the bottom, rather, they are more interested in pursuing professional degrees.

[@alexormulea]

Xie xie ni Helen Tai... That was an amazing and inspiring presentation... I'm Zimbabwean and it got me thinking a lot... Thankyou... There's a KZbinr who always tries to change people's perception about each other's countries especially about Africa and China since he's from Ghana but lives in China... He's channel is "WADA MAYA" and he uses the name MRGHANABABY... I honestly hope you meet him too because you probably would magnify the points you just stated... I hope he finds you and gets you as his guest and you give the many people who follow his purpose this point of view coz they'd definitely love it, I know...

[@munahgwyan4935]

The story she shared about her as a young girl visiting the Sheraton with her dad, that brought tears to my eyes. All I ever wish for is to have an Africa where people have overcome poverty, where everyone can dream and not shutdown because of no hope. I pray we will get there soon, invest in our future, look out for the future generations, take good care of our continent, be good to one another, and treat each other with kindness and respect. I would like to have leaders that demonstrate those values, see the goodness in its citizens, one day this Africa will exist, not for just one country, but for all countries. I pray I live long to see it.

[@proverbalizer]

I want to see a African person giving a TED talk titled is "Made in China" possible

[@Oringi]

THANK YOU!!! This "presentation" is an INSULT to African's WORLDWIDE. All that we learned from this is that our Mama is still in great demand while her children are orphaned out to the highest bidders!!! NO MORE.

[@yetebarekzekareas604]

We appreciate your belief in Africa and your courage in moving to my home country of Ethiopia to teach us how to fish. You are the first to leave your comfort zone.

[@neana]

Thank you so much Helen! Wonderful speech!

[@peterwang5196]

Impressive lady. More important than talk with a heart, Helen backed up with actions, a comrade in the tough battle against poverty in Africa....

[@jamesakili5009]

The labour is black, also the transfer of skills and many of her shoe manufacturing workers have started their own shoe manufacturing start-ups.

[@thinadlamini4671]

I don't know why an outsider is trying to develop African countries 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@tanumzalendo1567]

Thina Dlamini Why not? These folks are providing jobs for our people!🤷🏽‍♀️ Chinese are not the first ones to invest in Africa? Spanish clothing companies have been manufacturing clothes in maghreb countries! ( North Africa)

[@cooloong]

if Africans can do their job better, i think Chinese are more than happy to leave Africans alone. Think about how Chinese investment can benefit Africans in a larger scale instead of worrying about Chinese, either as outsider or new comer, to change Africa, of course to become better.

[@wobhineven47]

We can benifit, you can benifit. Win-win in the long run. And we want our part of profit. That's it.

[@malekseifert9909]

We African tend to blame others instead of work , work , work... and most importantly each other real respect and organize and work as a partner. We Don’t value each other. See it in your Environment. That is it what i see here.

[@kurrencyyy]

haha

[@socarandy]

Oh my God, one of the best Ted. God Bless you Helen for your work in Africa.

[@jamesakili5009]

The labour is black, also the transfer of skills and many of her shoe manufacturing workers have started their own shoe manufacturing start-ups.

[@ubuntumike5794]

It is, we all need to start contributing to the future of africa

[@aoneyardgalwellington4922]

ALL THAT GLITTER IS NOT GOLD. EUROPEAN MOVE IN AS FRIEND.. CHINA NEW EUROPEAN

[@abdulrasul4931]

Africa dosnt need forgieners to develop we need to put oust the corrupt governments and do by ourselves .Africa's problem staterd with USA and Europe. What makes you think China is different

[@tanumzalendo1567]

abdul rasul Do it ourselves really??? Stop being unreasonable bro’ Do you know who many brothers and sisters from your country are dying in the Mediterranean Sea trying to escape poverty ???

[@cooloong]

How much longer do you think your African fellow brothers and sister can and want to wait for people like you to develop their countries? 10 years? 20, 50, or 100 yrs? It's clear that for the past 50 yr, 100 yrs or even longer, they have failed to achieve this goal. Speaking of why Chinese, you have NO other choice, period. China is your only chance for a better Africa. Why Chinese are different? That's yet to be discovered and appreciated by millions of local Africans who have actually benefited from Chinese investments. It's easy to say NO to Chinese, but almost impossible for Africans to build a better future alone without CAPITAL and TECHNOLOGY from China. Face the reality, find me a 2nd country who have been or are really helping African in such an unprecedented scale and level.

[@ZzzZoned]

@@cooloong Are you out of your mind? China is not only choice and they will not be accepted. Just watch. Why can't you keep building businesses in China? OH, you're overpopulated? Too bad that is you problem, truth is Chinese like yourself want to move to Africa for migrating purposes since when does country like China help others for good reasons other than expansion and economic domination globally. Africa has corrupt leaders bribed from governments like that in China, simple as that. What Chinese doing now is no different than western colonialism. Just like China we can build factories and in fact we can do business with other Africans and be fine.

[@yuioyup]

@@ZzzZoned thank you... I believe this to be true...

[@Oringi]

This person SHOULD NOT be a representative for ANYONE or ANYTHING African. Get of here.

[@ewaoconnor]

A great story that gives hope… There is a DW documentary about a Chinese shoe factory in Ethiopia. The workers were paid 30$ a month for something like 12h of work day. One of the workers paid €20 a month for a place on a floor he used for sleeping… I hope wealthy investors pay a living wage to their workers…

[@jasonbegg1611]

You didn't even mention the elephant in the room. When Southeast Asia doesn't absorb all the jobs (even though you didn't even mention Indonesia), India has a population that is growing larger than China's in 2022 and is working on industrializing much faster than African countries I would adore to see Africa get the jobs for all the good it will do but India has a more educated population that is huge and a portion of it knows English even. Personally I've no idea what can compete with that

[@gregglass4796]

Jason Begg the ef

[@stuart1001]

China is starting up a business in Africa because China is running out of space. Plus they can set up military base once it is well on the way to helping out the Africans.

[@yuioyup]

They will exploit the Africans and put them in debt

[@cujoemblakka1041]

Manufacturing based on renewable power, not a polution based economy. I know china wants to shift their polution based economy to some place eslse.

[@theconfusedoromo5361]

and also you cant handle their ignorance and overpride/ not to learn English or local language

[@cooloong]

if you are a baby and just started learning walking, how can you expect to run tomorrow, if u can't run, how can you expect to fly? you have to build your foundation strong and firm enough before you can build a skyscraper. you want manufacturing with clean energy? Sure, but do you have enough MONEY, skilled LABOR and TECHNOLOGY? If Africa has this much money, skill and adequate technology, they would have been rich 100 years ago. Stop being naive and greedy. You need to learn running first before you can fly.

[@cooloong]

@@theconfusedoromo5361 Wrong. Some, if not all, Africans need to learn Chinese to better, easier and faster learn from China. You need help more than Chinese need money. Period. Chinese are know for being humble, comparing to westerners, If you don't like Chinese, try to get help from Westeners, and see how they treat you. You have been in poverty for the past century and is still in poverty, your only chance is from China. Don't get me wrong, you can grow, but at a speed slower than most other continents. If that's what you want, then, good luck and you can shut the door to Chinese now. God bless Africa.

[@cooloong]

Language is a tool, not a weapon. Learning Chinese is no different than learning computer programing. It's something that empowers people at a much faster speed and larger scale. African people all speak African languages and many speak English. If speaking African/English can solve all the problems in Africa, how come they are still so poor? .I guess you are a westerner who are just jealous of Chinese being more and more welcome in Africa. If you really want a better Africa, it's time to learn Chinese.

[@theconfusedoromo5361]

@@cooloong yeah lie to yourself as your government do. I respect how you overcome your poverty, and we all know how you are doing it. But your people are running to us keep them thier in your developed country

[@criessencia7858]

If you look at what's underneath the title of this TEDx (after having listened to the speech, of course), as an African, you should feel insulted. This is about a Chinese lady saying that besides she giving jobs to Africans, SHE is THE inspiration that Africans needed in order to develop themselves. She is trying to convey that she went to Africa to change the inert nature of the African people, as if Africans were not entrepreneurs before she got there. Only through her shoe industry did Africans learn how to manufacture shoes for themselves and beyond?The title of this TEDx could be: "The good that China does in Africa" perhaps.

[@timelessd9096]

The main point is that because of the leadership of the Ethiopian government that went to China to woo the 22 initial investors/companies that started the ball rolling. Another point you didn't take note was that she said, "I didn't choose Ethiopia but Ethiopia chose me." That means that the country was pro-active to take action. She mentions the positive aspects of the support she got from the Ethiopian government and somehow she's promoting and/or encouraging others to take the same steps to venture into Africa.

[@palatablejohnson5732]

look at the state of the countries how is she wrong even if she sounded insulting to you

[@palatablejohnson5732]

when yoou go home do you know how difficult it is most of the times you even end up failing when you broke there is nobody you can help

[@ubuntumike5794]

Ok that's good but Africa need you to join in don't just make comments you need to start doing.

[@miguelderm6469]

You have a false pride millions of people are starving in Ethiopia. Shame on you

[@nthigakagendo4228]

Africa is Rising!!!

[@smoothoperator9845]

It's a double edged sword, both sides are sharp. So extra care is engaged in it's use to prevent damage or severe injury. Africa is the Soul of the World. It's rythnm comes from Blood, Tears and Pain, inflicted upon it by other Contintents. But, as it's labour pain matures a new birth is born and a revival is emerging within the African continent as it’s former benefactors are gradually bearing the brunt's of their sins. Africa's inevitable growth is steadily taking bounds yet know to man. The Basket of Civilization is taking it's rightful place and Africans are once again taking up their Royalty. This time it's Wisdom and Wealth would not be Ensalved!.

[@frankmill5172]

well...I see why this only got 36k views

[@Scopps94]

This was a wonderful presentation. Well done Miss Helen Hai.

[@empoweringyouthdevelopment1488]

If china intentions is to end world poverty so be it,to many corrupt governments for me,we need passion in the world. !fk

[@banurasham6047]

You should tell your government to do the same as u.. employe locals to do projects in Africa, not ship in every thing from China, even truck drivers, wheelbarrow pushers and so on are shipped in for god's sake.. what employement opportunities are u creating then apart from your own...

[@cmukupo1606]

Chinese take care of Chinese interests Americans take care of American interests as Africans we need to learn to take care of African interests at the negotiating table not just hope for good luck.

[@ssebyaalaislam5360]

Yr comment deserves a standing ovation Much love from 🇺🇬

[@s.k1422]

Well done and well said.

[@myteachermary7714]

Amazing story Helen Hai.

[@peterjohnson5871]

I’m crying.

[@shaunmasi2185]

But why is everyone using this as a platform to complain? Lol You're missing the point. Lol

[@EthanBampeire]

Powerful.

[@gororo14]

Good talk

[@abdallahkarim8494]

I wonder,why Africans themselves can't do this just foreigners only

[@game1game247]

I don't know why alot of these speakers keep saying can africa become such and such why not cause we don't have any other way we have suffered worst in human history so progress is only word we can understand now and going so i yes we can do any progress we set our minds to it so # only way to survive.

[@letshabomasibi9499]

Africans don't be offended that she's not African just try to learn from her.

[@soulsearching2722]

All those jobs, each with ten strings attached. Aftica will not be slowly bought by the Chinese by God's grace. Africa has the potential to rise without the relocation of Chinese bussinesses and Africans are starting to tap into it.

[@geraldnjenga9303]

Wonderful conversation

[@teresarichardson2059]

No China please. Leave Africa alone

[@mupenzirobzy6643]

Africans please be serious with these Chinese all they thinking about is African continent

[@esing14]

Loving this speech. Full Joo Dee from Avatar.

[@narudinyumbani7206]

My wish is that if African would think like Helen

[@TL-fe9si]

Most people just have no idea that referring African countries together as Africa is offensive... Correct me if I'm wrong

[@Kudzaimakaza]

wow!

[@brownmoss7048]

God is here for everyone

[@Frank-xn2bl]

Helen hai ! Beautiful message. Feels like the heart beat of my thoughts

[@RukiaBlackBlazer]

SHE BROUGHT TEARS TO MY EYES.....

[@annbka]

that is what iam telling. china know how to do thing in africa. work and no fear. whith aid politik ,europe will not succed. the african need is in others ways

[@cosmicwisdom999]

guy chouadeu Next country to colonized Africa, keep building roads in exchanged for pieces of lands everywhere worldwide....China is sooo overpopulated that they need to spread out their people....If they allow u to do it, then go for it!!

[@jamesakili5009]

Colonization of China to Africa is another western fairy tale to discourage the South South cooperation. One thing I would only agree is the exploitation of African resources by Chinese private companies if and only the African leaders and people remain naïve which is not the case in many cooperation of China- African countries. We need manufacturing sector to expand and grow to add value to our raw materials, we need skills and capacity building for us to create and develop future global companies and how shall we get this? learn from the Chinese model and add your own in addition partnering with those already on global scale is advantageous to us. For instance her shoe factory in Ethiopia -The labour is black, also the transfer of skills and many of her shoe manufacturing workers have started their own shoe manufacturing start-ups.

[@ubuntumike5794]

James Akili right but the trade have to be fair resources are not an endless source they will dry up we need to get equal trade. We can't just sit back and let the Chinese drive Africa we need to take part in this actually we need to be front and center eyes wide open

[@brianbk356]

I like the accent

[@flammesflammes2273]

So shall it be!

[@peace2256]

This is an insult.! Why is this Chinese woman talking for Africans and why is Africa allowing Chinese in Africa. Damb shame.!

[@mcamara488]

She is inviting the chineses to move to Africa, clever move!

[@amadoundiaye9501]

It's been happening but Europeans put their names on it.

[@frixux]

Millions of chinese invading africa .

[@malipetek]

i am waiting for her to say "in" again.

[@bigmouthtv9893]

Will you keep quiet .....who told you African cant make products....what of the looted resources.. were they made in china , America or Europe?English is very bad .. sounds like Indian music

[@ghostafrica535]

they found more cow in ethiopia , that can mean more material to make choose

[@alejandroobregon8455]

“LO MÁS FACIL Y SENCILLO, “”ES DISFRUTAR DE NUESTRA CREACIÓN, “””POR NUESTRO SUEÑO TREPIDANTE ¡ALUCINANTE, ¡¡YAQE NUESTRA IMPLACABLE EVOLUCIÓN, ¡¡¡FLORECE POR ELLA 💖💖💖 ------------------------- “NUESTRA PRODIGIOSA MENTE, MANEJA NUESTRO DESEO “”PARA AVANZAR 💖💖💖 ------------------------ “NUESTRO DESTINO, NACE CON NOSOTRAS, YAQE DESDE QE NACEMOS, TENEMOS NUESTRA OBLIGACIÓN NECESARIA, “PARA ALIMENTAR_NUTRIR, NUESTRO ENTORNO, QIERO DECIR POR ENTORNO, A NUESTRO CUERPO, Y LO QE LE RODEA, “”POR ESO ÉL TABACO “””TIENE QE DESAPARECER ¡RADICAL. 💖💖💖 O SEA, “QE AL TENERLO SIEMPRE, DENTRO DE TÍ, EN TÚ CORAZÓN, “”EXPLOSIÓN SÚBATOMICA, “””ENTUSIASMO IMPARABLE ¡¡¡¡PARA SIEMPRE 💖💖💖 ------------------------ “ÉL VIGOROSO ENTUSIASMO “”IMPARABLE, “””DE NUESTRA SOBRENATURAL FEROMONA ¡INDESTRUCTIBLE, ¡¡TRANSMITE ONDA VITAL ETERNA, A LOS CUERPOS EXISTENTES, ¡¡¡TRANSFIRIENDO EN SU INDISCUTIBLE CONTACTO SENSORIAL, ¡¡¡¡VEHEMENCIA DE FRENESÍ, ¡¡¡¡¡PARA SIEMPRE 💖💖💖 ---------------------------- ¡¡¡¡YÚP_PYHÌ, “WÚAW, ¡¡¡¡¡DIOSA, PRINCESA: “VIBRACIÓN EXPLOSIVA “”SOBRENATURAL, ¡AURORA_BOREAL, “INIGUALABLE HERMOSURA, “”SOBREPASA SIN DUDA ALGUNA, CUALQIER REFERENCIA EXPUESTA 💖💖💖 -------------------------- “AHÍ VA UN PAPI, LLAMADO MACHOTE, RECORDANDO HAZAÑAS CON SU CUÑÑÁÁO. ÉL MACHOTE REFLEJANDO LA TEORIA_PRACTICA TRAVESIA, QE EFECTUABA CON SU FORD CORTINA (QE ESE COCHE, INAUGURO, LAS VISITAS A DISTANCIA, “PARA UNIR_ENLAZAR A LOS CUERPOS QE SE MENCIONAN), PARA CREAR MAYOR FIRMEZA DE RELACIÓN. YA QE ÉL MACHOTE, SE SACO DE NOVIA, A LA HERMANA DEL CUÑÑÁÁO, QE RESIDEN EN FRANCIA, LO CUAL HACE, QE PARA CONTACTAR, SE TENÍAN QE VER, Y POR ELLO SE GENERA LOS PASEITOS EN COCHE, “EN LA SITUACIÓN QE ESTAMOS VIENDO. ÉL MACHOTE TIENE QE SALIR DE CADIZ, PARA LLEGAR A LYÓN_FRANCIA, Y EN SU TRANSCURSO, TENÍAN QE PARAR, PARA EFECTUAR SUS NECESIDADES (DESCANSAR, COMER, Y SOLTAR ÉL CHORRITO, CON SUS CORRESPONDIETES ALIENÍGENA ORGANICOS), “Y SE ENTUSIASMAN COMO NUNCA, AL ENCONTRARSE, “”ASUNTO QE SE BUSCA DE FORMA “””INCONSCIENTE 💖💖💖 “Y SALTA ÉL MINI_BOY (ÉL NIÑO DEL MACHOTE), DICIENDO: “ANDA PAPI, ENTRA EN LA ÉPOCA MODERNA, “”Y APARTA ÉL LIMITE, CONTACTANDO POR ONDA “””TELE_MAGNETICA_TRANSPORTE, ¡TODO ESTÁ, EN NUESTRA MENTE, ¡¡LANZA IMPARABLE EMOCIÓN, RECIBIENDO SU CLARIDAD, AUNQE SEA CONFUSA, ¡¡¡Y TRANSMITE NUESTRO ENTUSIASMO ¡¡¡¡IMPLACABLE 💖💖💖 ------------------------ “LA FIRME CONSTANCIA, “”DE NUESTRA IMPARABLE FEROMONA, NUESTRA MATRIZ, “ENTUSIASMO CONSTANTE, “”ES LO QE ALIMENTA NUESTRA MENTE, “YAQE POR ELLA, EXISTE, “”NUESTRO DESARROLLO “””IMPLACABLE (“YAQE ES LA SUSTANCIA, VITAMINA, QE DESPRENDE NUESTRO CUERPO, “”DE FORMA INTANGIBLE_VERDADERA), “AFIRMANDO NUESTRA CONEXIÓN “”ÚNICA, “””E INTERMINABLE, ¡POR SU DESTINO ¡¡TREPIDANTE, ¡¡¡EMOCIONANTE 💖💖💖 ------------------------------ “ESA ESTIMULACIÓN MOTIVAN_TE, QE BUSCAS, ES, “”NUESTRA UNIÓN EXPLOSIVA “””IMPARABLE, ¡ESTANDO SIEMPRE EN TÍ, ¡¡VIBRACIÓN SOBRENATURAL ¡¡¡CONSTANTE 💖💖💖 ------------------------ “NUESTRA IMPERTURBABLE FEROMONA, ES ÉL ENTUSIASMO CONSTANTE, QE EMANE NUESTRA PRESENCIA_ESENCIA, YAQE POR ELLA, SE DESARROLLA, “”NUESTRO DESTINO, “””QE SE PERCIBE ¡Y NOS UNE, ¡¡POR SU CONEXIÓN ¡¡¡INTERMINABLE 💖💖💖

[@ToFester]

Of course it's possible anything is possible.

[@TerryJulianLive]

Thank you China!!!! Please help continue to help Africa GROW!!

[@therenegaderev469]

SUPREME PENNY STOCKS yeah right steel it from them is more like it.

[@5annent]

it only makes sense] ALL the material resources are Already in Africa!] what Sense does it make, to Ship these materials out?] =only to manufacture & enrich Other continents economy] while leaving Africa Stripped, barren &dirt poor] w/ the World nations Needing Africa's rich Resources] Africa's government should Demand some technological development &infrastructure] definitely a Minimum base universal income, universal healthcare, universal housing &food stamps, education as other countries do!] all hue-mans in the future won't need to work, because of computerization] robots are already in car plants Ect] automobiles that can drive themselves] automation already displace many workers this will only increase]

[@Roy0001]

5annent problem solved. About week ago 49/54 african presidents opened their borders for free trade within their countries. Africa's economy is gonna double.

[@ubuntumike5794]

Right, but we don't need charity we need to process our resources in land to create job so other can eat.

[@waionnw]

Inspirational

[@Jumpkic]

i love this lady

[@taska9510]

You rather had kept quiet, because you don't know anything about Africa, all you stated was just about your story and businesses, besides, Ethiopia was only where you visited, and you mentioned so much rubbishes which you thought you were doing a good job, I really your speech and the you defined Africa!!!!!!

[@michaelchimaiwuala3082]

Crazy dog

[@tundraoil]

WHO'S/ WHERE IS THE PROVIDER??

[@a2eoas]

This relocation talk doesnt make any sense. China has more than enough labourers and there is no more need for unsophisticated labour.. Textile industry is not moving to Africa but back to China which has the robots and the skilled labour. Even Bangladesh, India, Pakistan etc are having trouble keeping those sweat shops that were once delocalized from China. African textile industry plays no significant role, although some countries like Kenia are trying. Talk about huge success looks like the eternal sale of delusions about some industrialization that "just started". Her idealism and anecdotal evidence is quite useless. She fails to mention the real problems for which data would be available albeit unpleasant and politically incorrect. The Chinese are likely to become scapegoats that will be blamed for African failure just as Europeans previously were.

[@cujoemblakka1041]

You're right, Africa had a large textile industries, but they were dismantled and divested, so we should own our own industries, and not be just mere laborers.

[@ubuntumike5794]

cujoe Mblakka we need to not should it's ours we need to!

[@petcharles1971]

??????

[@gregglass4796]

a2eoas we.

[@atwilliams8]

If they colonize then yea they'll be blamed...

[@thatdutchguy2882]

👏👏👏👏

[@zuherabud744]

its only in africa you can get anything businessmen and women gather leaders to a meeting thats ridiculous cant do that in europe, gulf or china. ..... . . . . . . . . . ....... self esteem tooooooo lowwwwwwwwww

[@jeb7131]

Im just going to sit back and wait for the aging society collapse in itself..

[@danarobinson6156]

She is spot on.

[@yaadapaah7851]

Am inspired wow!

[@hop439]

Since an asiatic have to talk about africa it means it's not possible yet.....Any african won't talk about any asian country or american or european

[@Shem441]

This video should be called anything with the word thieves in it....

[@keikofilms]

Marc Bible lol

[@domju4970]

Hum!!!!...

[@thetruthSL]

The TEDTalks are becoming less and less meaningfull. TED has lost its magic, its value and everything it is worth. Africa is not a country but a continent. So much distortion, generalization in the message you communicate.

[@tanumzalendo1567]

The Truth Helen said Africa is a continent with 54 countries...... what are talking about?

[@kigememugeni2267]

They can smell the finest aroma of gold , diamond 💎 bronze etc........

[@samsib4323]

Just impressive ...ohhhh wow

[@allengardenroutelife8787]

No. Not can happen. They like west more,and not like work, not like Asia people can overtime and hard working.

[@ndipgaston1643]

Made in Africa? You are a Chinese, why don't we hear made in Asia and rather made in China? Besides, we Africans shall build our economies we don't need Asians to help us build and monopolize our markets for us.

[@reality6522]

it's easy. get the undeveloped world working. volunteer slavery. working will make them more appreciated and responsible

[@enacolly6727]

Wow That's a great presentation of Africa.

[@jasminew795]

I don’t’ know why people complaint so much in the comments! Many People(including other Chinese), if they have the wealth of this lady, would rather just do shopping at luxury shops in Paris! Very few of them really want to do sth for the poor people! Why her goodwill was not respected? I just don’t understand.

[@empoweringyouthdevelopment1488]

Very Interesting comments I honestly believe no man or woman is an island,if we are all stronger together solving problems of the poor countries then so be it,you reap what you sow so me as a spiritual leader knows that the universe has all the answers and the universe is on the side of justice.☀️😃👍!fk

[@dialloamadoury9518]

She tell truth

[@theconfusedoromo5361]

once we had a leader, his name was Meles and he was Ethiopian, i know they killed him. i wish the new leader takes that legacy

[@aoneyardgalwellington4922]

government own...but who owns the government

[@newchips]

7:03

[@taimildyas1126]

this is inappropriate

[@Christjohnny33]

Sad to say answer is NO. IQ and RACE. This is the truth ...

[@mrblackalchemist]

Christjohnny33 you think the iq and race is the problem. Too low?

[@MrSupernova111]

I find it interesting how the speaker in the video is talking about economic development and the majority of the comments are directed at Africa's history and ties to Europe. I appreciate history like anyone else but if you want economic development stick to the issue at hand. Imagine going to a meeting with Chinese businesspeople to raise capital for industries and your entire focus is on your African country's history with Europe. Stop living in the past people. Learn from history and don't let it be a deterrent to progress.

[@Nono-pu6nl]

Can you come and build my country Sundan. We need help please China help us. Love from Sudan to China.

[@zigzag1able]

I commend China for doing what their doing. They shall help Africa build their economy tremendously 👍🏾.

[@lesfutureslions2156]

Thank You for your vision to Africa and you are welcome to senegal

[@5annent]

it only makes sense] ALL the material resources are Already in Africa!] what Sense does it make, to Ship these materials out?] =only to manufacture & enrich Other continents economy] while leaving Africa Stripped, barren &dirt poor] w/ the World nations Needing Africa's rich Resources] Africa's government should Demand some technological development &infrastructure] definitely a Minimum base universal income, universal healthcare, universal housing &food stamps, education as other countries do!] all hue-mans in the future won't need to work, because of computerization] robots are already in car plants Ect] automobiles that can drive themselves] automation already displace many workers this will only increase]

[@H20595]

They would not need any outside help if there was no western interference. looting western lies, western manipulation of the continent as a whole. independence for who.. lord liability. you will always hold that title. .