Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen (M) says in an interview with the newspaper Politiken that it's about serving Denmark's economic interests in the global economy as Europe's population is shrinking.
This is not altruism or charity, he says.
It's a central part of an Africa strategy that is expected to be presented by the Foreign Ministry at the end of August, according to Lars Løkke Rasmussen. It will also include proposals for higher amounts to investment funds that will help Danish companies establish themselves in Africa.
Last year, a majority in the Folketing, Denmark's parliament, decided to expand the English-language study places by several thousand in the coming years.
Lars Løkke Rasmussen has repeatedly said that the country and the rest of Europe are "losing a race against China" as China strengthens its influence in Africa.
He and Dan Jørgensen (S), Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy, have recently traveled several times to African countries, including Ghana.
