Mining giant Vale is one of the many Brazilian firms eying Africa 's potential . It plans to spend more than $ 12 billion on investments in Africa over the next five years . The company has already invested heavily in Angola, where it owns a stake worth about 10 percent and which recently signed an agreement with China for its first ever oil exploration project there. With ties that date back to the era of slave trade , Brazilian leaders are quick to use the country 's cultural affinity with Africa as an advantage in its competition . Trade between Brazil and Africa jumped from $ 4 billion in 2000 to $ 20 billion in 2010 .
Mining giant Vale is one of the many Brazilian firms eying Africa 's potential . It plans to spend more than $ 12 billion on investments in Africa over the next five years . The company has already invested heavily in Angola, where it owns a stake worth about 10 percent and which recently signed an agreement with China for its first ever oil exploration project there. Trade between Brazil and Africa jumped from $ 4 billion in 2000 to $ 20 billion in 2010 .