UN Chief Urges Africa to Expand Local Industries, End Resource Exploitation

Secretary-General António Guterres called on African countries to boost investment in manufacturing and local processing industries, saying the continent must move beyond reliance on raw material exports and end decades of resource exploitation.

In a statement, Guterres said Africa’s abundant natural resources should become a driver of industrial growth and economic diversification rather than external extraction.

He urged governments and international partners to increase investment in processing industries and local manufacturing sectors to help African economies capture greater value from their resources and strengthen their position in global supply chains.

“This is a crucial opportunity for African countries to diversify their economies and move up global value chains,” Guterres said. “No more exploitation. No more plunder.”

The U.N. chief also highlighted upcoming climate conferences, including the COP32 summit due to take place in Ethiopia in 2027, describing them as important platforms for advancing African climate priorities and development goals.

African policymakers have increasingly pushed for industrialization strategies focused on local production and value-added industries as part of broader efforts to reduce dependence on commodity exports and create jobs for the continent’s growing population.