Bio Calls for Africa to Process Its Minerals, Create More Jobs

President Julius Maada Bio has called for greater processing and value addition of Africa’s mineral resources within the continent, urging African countries to move beyond the export of raw materials and focus on industrialisation and job creation.

President Bio made the call during a fireside chat at Unstoppable Africa 2026 in New York on September 20, where he became the first African Head of State to kick-start this year’s programme.

He said Africa’s mineral wealth should serve as a foundation for industrial development and stronger national economies, particularly through increased processing and manufacturing within the continent.

“Africa must move beyond the extraction and export of raw materials. We must process and transform our minerals on the continent,” President Bio said.

The Sierra Leonean President also called for increased investment in infrastructure, linking improved infrastructure to Africa’s capacity to process its natural resources, expand productive activities and create more economic opportunities.

According to Bio, increasing value addition to Africa’s minerals could strengthen national economies while generating meaningful employment opportunities, particularly for the continent’s growing youth population.

His remarks came as Unstoppable Africa 2026 placed critical minerals and infrastructure among its key areas of discussion. The forum is examining ways for Africa to capture greater economic value from its natural resources instead of continuing to export them largely in unprocessed form.

The Global Africa Business Initiative said this year’s programme is focused on investment, ownership and growth across the continent, including local processing and green industrialisation in critical minerals and other extractive industries.

The two-day forum is being held on September 20 and 21 at the New York Marriott Marquis under the theme, “Powering Business, Scaling Economies, Shaping the Future.” It brings together African and global business leaders, investors, policymakers and heads of state to discuss investment, trade, infrastructure, energy, digital transformation and other areas of economic development.

Following his fireside chat, President Bio attended the high-level opening ceremony, which featured addresses from United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.

The event is convened by the United Nations and the African Union and organised by the United Nations Global Compact.