Africa tells Russia to invest in their industries

MOSCOW – African Union Chairperson and Burundi president Évariste Ndayishimiye has challenged Russian businesses to invest in African industries and help transform the continent’s natural resources into finished products, saying Africa wants a greater share of the wealth generated from its resources.

Addressing the Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum in Moscow yesterday, Ndayishimiye said African countries wanted partnerships that created jobs, transferred technology and allowed them to participate in the entire production chain rather than remain exporters of raw materials.

“We do not want to be condemned to export our raw materials. We want to participate as a whole in the global chain, from production to commercialisation, so that the wealth we create benefits our people even more,” he said.

Ndayishimiye called on Russian companies to invest in African countries, develop local industries and support projects that would improve skills, create employment and strengthen African economies.

He said cooperation should go beyond the export of natural resources and focus on building industries that process those resources locally, allowing African countries to retain more value from their production.

“I therefore invite Russian enterprises to explore the possibilities of investment in our countries, by favouring projects that create jobs, enhance our resources, transform the capacities of our countries and build a sustainable future,” he said.

His remarks placed industrialisation, local value addition and job creation at the centre of discussions on expanding economic relations between Russia and Africa.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, addressing the same forum, said Russia was ready to share its technological expertise with African countries and expand cooperation in sectors including agriculture, energy, industry, transport and infrastructure.

Putin said Russia–Africa trade increased by 18% last year, pointing to growing economic relations between the two sides.

He said Russia exported 13 million tonnes of agricultural products to African countries during the first nine months of 2026, while Russian grain and fertilisers were supplied to more than 40 African states.

Putin also said African agricultural exports to Russia were worth about US$4 billion this year, accounting for approximately 8% of Russia’s agricultural import needs.

He said there was room to expand trade and investment, with cooperation also possible in nuclear energy, digital technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space, education, healthcare and scientific research.

Putin said Russia was prepared to share modern technologies and expertise with African countries, including in water management, irrigation, hydropower, agricultural production, food storage and processing.

Such cooperation, he said, could support development and help African countries strengthen their productive capacity.

The Russian president also called for a greater role for African countries in international economic decision-making, including within the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

He pointed to Africa’s economic potential, saying 12 of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies were on the continent and that African economic growth averaged about 4.5%, according to figures cited in his address.

Putin further highlighted the growing influence of emerging economies, saying the BRICS grouping accounted for more than 40% of global gross domestic product, compared with less than 30% for the Group of Seven advanced economies.

He said Russia supported African industrial development, investment and infrastructure projects, including efforts to process natural resources locally.

For African countries, the challenge is to turn such commitments into investments that produce tangible results, including factories, employment opportunities, technology transfer and stronger local industries.

Ndayishimiye said the forum should lead to practical outcomes rather than remain a platform for discussion.

He called for concrete decisions, investment agreements and initiatives that would benefit people in both Russia and Africa.

The discussions come as African countries seek to expand their economic partnerships while increasing local production and reducing dependence on exporting unprocessed commodities.

For the continent, the priority is to ensure that its natural resources, agricultural potential and growing workforce contribute more directly to economic development and improved living standards.

Ndayishimiye’s message to Russian businesses was that investment should support this transformation by creating jobs, strengthening local industries and allowing African countries to capture more value from their own resources.

The Russia–Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum is took place in Moscow alongside the third Russia–Africa Summit this week.

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