Windhoek, Sept 22 — At the Unstoppable Africa 2025 high-level opening panel in New York, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah joined H.E. Duma Boko, President of Botswana, Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, CEO of Naspers South Africa, and Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman & CEO of DP World, to underline Africa’s pivotal role in shaping global markets.
She highlighted that Africa is the leading producer of many of the world’s critical minerals, yet too often remains treated as a secondary player while fueling the growth of others. The President stressed that this narrative must change.
To shift the balance, she called for Africa to fully leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to unlock stronger intra-African trade and regional value chains, while also driving value addition at home ,ensuring that minerals are processed and refined on the continent.
Her message was clear: Africa cannot afford to simply export raw resources. By investing in local industries and creating jobs, the continent can transform markets, assert its economic sovereignty, and secure a fairer share of global prosperity.
Credit: Namibian Presidency
