Aid to Africa in return for privatization

yep... that's the way it works... all you poor countries liberalize YOUR trade and open up YOUR borders for foreign investment and we rich countries may, just MAY, give you something in return... but, please, don't mention the massive agricultural subsidies in the eu and the u.s...

The G8 countries ”sent a clear message that they will only consider taking action if poor countries liberalise in return,” the WDM [World Development Movement (WDM), an independent non-governmental organisation] said in a statement. ”The G8 push to get poor countries to liberalise has even extended as far as offering 'aid for trade' bribes -- giving poor countries some extra aid money in return for liberalisation.”

[...]

The G8 pushed the privatisation principle strongly in its communiqué, in the face of a host of studies, several of them accepted even by the World Bank, that rapid and unfettered privatisation had ruined the economies of several strong and struggling nations alike.

[...]

”The G8's approach on trade seems to be 'Ask not what we can do for the poor, but what the poor can do for us,'” said Peter Hardstaff [of the WDM].

i'm actually glad to see the hypocrisy of the g8 countries finally seeing more of the light of day...

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