The global energy transition is placing Africa at the center of emerging industrial value chains. The continent holds around 40% of the world’s critical mineral reserves, including cobalt, lithium, manganese and graphite—resources that are essential for batteries, renewable energy technologies and low-carbon infrastructure. Yet, despite this exceptional endowment, most African countries continue to export these resources in raw form, capturing only a limited share of the value generated across global supply chains.
Against a backdrop of intensifying geoeconomic competition for access to critical minerals and the emergence of new international requirements related to sustainability, traceability and ESG standards, a key strategic question arises for African economies: how can the continent transform its mineral wealth into a driver of green industrialization, economic diversification and strategic autonomy—rather than a new cycle of raw material dependence?
In this context, the session organized within the Trade and Sustainability Hub aims to foster strategic dialogue on the trade and industrial policy tools that can enable resource-rich African countries to move up the value chain and capture greater value from critical minerals in the global clean energy transition.
The discussion seeks to:
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Examine trade and industrial policy instruments being deployed by African governments to promote local processing, beneficiation and value addition in critical minerals supply chains;
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Identify avenues for regional and international cooperation that can help African countries effectively navigate evolving sustainability standards and global regulatory frameworks;
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Explore innovative trade partnerships and incentive mechanisms that can support Africa’s meaningful participation in higher-value segments of global clean energy supply chains.
The session is expected to:
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Generate strategic insights on how African countries can capture greater value from critical minerals supply chains;
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Highlight opportunities for trade and investment cooperation that support green industrialization and economic diversification;
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Contribute to aligning global trade dynamics with Africa’s development priorities, including the Africa Mining Vision, the AfCFTA industrialization agenda, and the continent’s broader climate and sustainable development goals.
About the meeting : https://iisd.swoogo.com/trade-and-sustainability-hub-2026/session/37303…