Prince of logistics: ex-Blackwater chief looks to China-Africa
China is not known for its moral scruples or sensitivity when it comes to investing in dangerous countries. It may help to build schools, hospitals and railways as a quid pro quo for getting access, but what it mostly seems to want is to get in and out with its raw materials and without interfering in local politics.
Erik Prince and China could be made for each other. The former Navy Seal who founded the hugely controversial private security group Blackwater is pitching to run logistics for Chinese mining and energy companies in Africa.
He is now chairman of Hong Kong-listed Frontier Services Group, which is backed by Citic Group, the Chinese state-owned investment company, and Hong Kong entreprenuer, Johnson Ko Chun Shun. Prince remains the largest individual shareholder having sold an east African aviation start-up company he owned to what was essentially a shell company.
China is expected to invest up to $1tn over the next decade in Africa, on top of the billions it has put in to finance mines, power plants and other infrastructure, which have helped it generate trade of $185bn with the continent.
http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2014/01/14/prince-of-logistics-ex-blackwater-chief-looks-to-help-china-in-africa/
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