Raphael Obonyo urges African countries to seek investment, skills and technology that help them earn more from their resources.
Kenyan public policy analyst Raphael Obonyo has urged African countries to make local production central to Russia-Africa trade. He says deeper partnerships should give the continent a greater role in processing and trade.
Obonyo argues that Africa should move beyond exporting raw materials and importing finished goods at higher prices. Instead, he wants partnerships that turn natural resources into prosperity for African populations.
He says investment in local processing industries would help countries retain more value from their resources. Technology transfer and skills development should also support that shift, rather than reinforce dependence on imported manufactured goods.
Russia-Africa trade priorities
Obonyo identifies agriculture, energy, transport and infrastructure as key areas for cooperation with Russia and other major economic powers. He therefore wants discussions on these partnerships to focus on practical opportunities for local production and industrial development.
The analyst also calls for technology transfers and training programmes to strengthen Africa’s ability to produce goods. These measures, he says, would help African countries play a greater role in global production and trade.
Alongside investment, Obonyo advocates more diverse trade arrangements, payment systems and transport routes connecting Africa with Russia and the BRICS economic bloc. He argues that these measures would expand economic opportunities.
His proposals place greater African participation in production, processing and trade at the centre of deeper economic partnerships. For Obonyo, the priority is to help countries gain more value from their resources.
