Nigeria and the African Development Bank (AfDB) are promoting greater regional collaboration in mineral processing to enhance value creation across the continent, as African intra-trade remains at 16%. This initiative aims to help countries maximize the economic benefits of their mineral resources by reducing reliance on raw material exports and fostering local industrial development. The push for regional cooperation comes amid ongoing efforts to diversify economies and reduce dependency on a few key commodities.
The AfDB and Nigerian officials emphasized the need for shared infrastructure, technology transfer, and policy alignment to support regional mineral processing hubs. Such efforts could potentially create jobs, stimulate local industries, and increase the continent’s share of global value chains. While the exact implementation details are still under discussion, the focus is on building a more integrated and resilient African supply chain.
Meanwhile, the 48th annual Sapics Conference in Cape Town brought together over 600 supply chain professionals from across Africa and beyond. Discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration, infrastructure investment, and technology adoption in strengthening regional supply chains. While not directly related to mineral processing, the conference underscored broader trends toward economic integration and sustainable development across the continent (bizcommunity.com).
