African leaders and mining stakeholders have intensified calls for stronger continental cooperation to ensure the continent gains greater economic value from its vast mineral resources.
The push is expected to focus on attracting investment, creating jobs and strengthening Africa’s position in the global minerals market.
It also comes amid concerns that African countries continue to lose significant economic opportunities by exporting raw minerals for processing and value addition outside the continent.
Stakeholders believe that building stronger regional value chains could accelerate industrialisation and make mineral development contribute more directly to economic growth.
The renewed focus formed part of discussions on how African countries can collectively harness their mineral wealth for sustainable development.
The call was made at the 2nd Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) High-Level Roundtable held in New York, United States, where senior government officials and stakeholders discussed strategies for strengthening cooperation in the mining sector.
A statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Lara Owoeye-Wise, said the meeting focused on the need for African countries to move beyond the export of raw minerals by promoting local processing and developing stronger mineral value chains.
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, and the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, were among key participants at the roundtable.
Others in attendance included Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal; Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Ali Hassan Joho; Secretary-General of the AMSG, Moses Michael Engadu; and Eswatini’s Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, Prince Lonkhokhela Dlamini.
The roundtable is part of AMSG’s efforts to promote stronger partnerships among African countries and develop common strategies for the responsible management of the continent’s mineral resources.
The group is also working to encourage investment, improve local value addition and ensure that mineral development contributes more directly to economic growth and sustainable development across Africa.
Stakeholders said deeper collaboration and coordinated policies could help African nations retain greater value from their resources while boosting industrialisation and employment opportunities across the continent.
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