President William Ruto has urged Russia to invest in African industries, technology transfer and skills development, Capital FM reported via AllAfrica. He spoke on Thursday at the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow. Ruto said Africa must build manufacturing capacity, add value to its natural resources and create jobs.
He named agriculture as an immediate area for cooperation. He called for investment in affordable fertilisers, local fertiliser manufacturing, mechanisation, irrigation technology, research and agro-processing. Africa needs to make its own farm inputs and rely less on imports, he said. He also listed energy infrastructure, engineering, mineral processing and manufacturing as areas for partnership.
"A more industrialized, productive, and prosperous Africa is not a threat to anyone. It is an opportunity for the entire world," Ruto said. He pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area, a market of 1.4 billion people, as a base for regional value chains. He also sought cooperation in education, artificial intelligence, pharmaceutical research and local vaccine manufacturing.
Ruto said Kenya is showing that industrialisation can go hand in hand with climate responsibility. He cited geothermal power, renewable energy and green manufacturing. Ahead of COP31, he called for affordable climate finance for African nations.
On finance, Ruto said high borrowing costs limit developing countries' ability to fund infrastructure and industry. He backed the creation of the African Credit Rating Agency and reforms on debt sustainability. He renewed calls for permanent African representation on the UN Security Council, citing the continent's 54 nations. He said the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Action Plan for 2027-2029 should turn summit commitments into investment.
The same message came from Nairobi on Thursday, The Star reported. Industry PS Juma Mukhwana and Bidco Africa Chairman Vimal Shah urged African countries to manufacture finished goods. They spoke at the opening of the fifth KCA University Innovation Week and Industry Summit in Ruaraka. Mukhwana said Africa is home to about 18 per cent of the world's population. Yet it accounts for only around three per cent of global manufacturing, he said.
Shah said Kenya has plenty of ideas but must get better at turning them into products and industries. He noted that Africa's population is projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, which will keep demand growing. The KCA summit closes on Thursday, according to The Star.