The use of the economic potential of the African continent by Polish entrepreneurs: selected aspects of mutual cooperation on the example of regions of West and East Africa

Narodowe Centrum Nauki

The aim of this article is to present the current state of Polish economic cooperation with selected countries in West and East Africa. Its implementation takes place in the broader context of the opportunities and risks to development processes of African countries. The first part of the article defines the possible barriers and opportunities, and on their basis the perspectives of the future development of this group of countries. Part two focuses the discussion on the characterization of the economies of West and East Africa in terms of their economic potential. Part three of the article presents trade and investment flows between Poland and its selected partners from these two regions in the years 1994-2013. The article assumes the division of Africa into regions as developed by the United Nations. The article is the result of the research project "Theoretical, institutional and empirical conditions and premises of economic potentials synergies of African countries and Polish economy" financed by the National Science Centre, Poland (decision no. DEC-2012/07/B/HS4/00743”).