The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) has been officially in business since January 19, 1971. Its major purpose is to reorganise and widen the scope of programmes for the promotion of US private investment overseas in developing countries.

It has contributed a great deal to the problems of many young and inexperienced African states that they have been thrust into an advanced international economic, social and political system. They are expected to fit into this system, although they are sometimes lacking the level of development...