BERLIN, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she will focus on the topics of development aid and illegal migration during her visit to three African countries.

Merkel will kick off her three-day visit to Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria from Wednesday this week. Accompanied by a business delegation, she will meet with leaders to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues.

In a podcast video published on Sunday, Merkel said the economic prospect is so crucial to most countries in Africa because they are young countries and there are many young people who need training and jobs and therefore Germany needs to strengthen economic cooperation with Africa.

The three countries face great challenges, but they are all very involved in solving regional conflicts, said Merkel, adding that Germany should give special support to them when it comes to economic prospects.

She will also discuss with Nigeria on anti-terrorism issues, in a bid to bring security and economic development together.

Merkel said Germany has been involved in Africa for many decades and the cooperation has become much closer, but the African continent still has great developmental stages ahead of it.

Illegal migration is another major topic during the German chancellor's African tour, and one of the reasons of Germany getting so involved in Africa, said Merkel.

Nowadays Africa is the major origin of illegal migration to Europe, some of them due to conflicts but mostly the economic migration which the EU is trying to crack down.

Merkel believed that with the economic development, African could become a good future market for the export-oriented Germany.?