Blackwater founder Erik Prince to help Chinese firms set up shop in Africa

Erik Prince, the man behind controversial private security firm Blackwater, wants to "take the drama out of Africa" for Chinese firms eyeing the continent's trove of natural resources.

Prince, who sold Blackwater in 2010, is now chairman of Frontier Services Group (FSG), which provides logistics, aviation and risk management services to firms that want to set up in Africa.

"We want to take some of the drama out of Africa; the drama of getting there, setting up and operating there," he said.

Over the past decade, Chinese investors have poured billions into Africa to secure access to natural resources amid concerns of exploitation. China is Africa's biggest trade partner.

FSG, which has a sales team in Beijing and is headquartered in Hong Kong, is closely linked to Citic Group, China's largest state-owned conglomerate.

While the dictum "high risk, high return" applies to the continent, Prince said his customers - who are looking for bauxite, steel, energy, copper, tin or gold - should focus on another slogan: "happy locals, happy project".