Egypt seeks African mining alliance to boost mineral value addition

Egypt is striving to establish a robust African mining partnership to amplify the value of the continent's mineral resources through processing, technology transfer, and industrial investment, announced Industry Minister Khaled Hashem on October 17, 2026, during the inauguration of African Mining Week 2026 in Cape Town. Hashem emphasized that enhanced collaboration among African nations could lead to the emergence of new industries, the creation of skilled jobs, and investment prospects.

Representing Egypt was Assistant Minister for Strategic Industries Mohamed Zada. Hashem underscored Egypt's endeavors to bolster mining cooperation with African countries, which included hosting the Egypt Mining Forum last month and organizing the El Alamein Africa Forum. He stressed that the success of Africa's mining endeavors should be evaluated not only by the quantity of extraction but also by the industries, employment opportunities, and community development facilitated by its mineral wealth.

Hashem urged coordinated actions by governments, industry stakeholders, and investors to expand local manufacturing and secure a larger share of the value derived from mineral resources. Egypt stands prepared to contribute its industrial expertise, skilled labor force, and strategic alliances to these collective efforts, Hashem affirmed, adding that such cooperation could render African economies more interconnected and competitive.

Zada participated in a panel discussion titled "Creating Value Addition for Africa," which explored methods to integrate mining and manufacturing, reinforce regional cooperation, and foster sustainable industrial development. Panelists included Uganda's Minister of Energy and Mineral Development Monica Musenero and Guinea's Deputy Industry Minister Daouda Dakita.