Africa’s international trade relies heavily on shipping and ports, and the region is home to over 1.2 billion residents. Off the coasts of Africa a number of islands are associated with the continent. Madagascar, one of the largest islands in the world, is the most significant in terms of shipping volume. The African region contains an enormous wealth of mineral resources that includes some of the world’s largest reserves of fossil fuels, metallic ores, gems, and precious metals.
