Africa, a Continent on the Move

This introductory chapter presents the purpose and structure of the book. It analyses the conditions for African countries to move from economic growth (quantitative evolution of production) to societal development (qualitative evolution of people’s well-being). To this end, four complementary and intertwined drivers are identified: the decompartmentalisation of economic and political borders, the efficient organisation of trade flows (goods, services and capital), the compliance with the principles of corporate societal responsibility and the need to establish business relationships based on trust. This chapter also underlines the variety of socio-economic situations on the African continent.