The official opening of the Russian-African Raw Materials Dialogue "Development Path: Raw Materials and Personnel as the Basis of Economic Sovereignty" will take place on 30 October at Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University.

Participants in the dialogue plan to develop joint approaches to advancing the national economies of African countries, taking into account Russian experience. Special attention will be given to cooperation in the field of mineral extraction and the creation of educational programmes for the training of engineering personnel.

Representatives of 32 African Union member states have confirmed their participation, including eight sectoral ministers, 17 ambassadors and chargés d’affaires, as well as heads of industrial companies and higher education institutions. The Russian side will be represented by scientists from the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), experts from the Mining University, top managers of raw materials companies, and representatives of ministries and agencies.

The dialogue is organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Competence Centre for Mining Engineering Education under the auspices of UNESCO. The event is aimed at the practical implementation of earlier agreements on cooperation between Russia and African countries, declared by President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov during the Second Russia–Africa Summit (2023).

As Vladimir Putin has noted, the African continent has “a very great future”, and BRICS plans to work actively in its fast-growing markets. According to the United Nations, Africa accounts for about 30 per cent of the world’s mineral reserves, 40 per cent of gold, and up to 90 per cent of platinum, which creates potential for mutually beneficial projects. Russian diplomacy actively supports this direction, noting that trade turnover with African countries has grown by more than 60 per cent over the past five years, while political dialogue continues to strengthen.

Photo: Press service of Saint Petersburg Mining University