Alake: US Tariffs Blessing in Disguise for Africa

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

The prevailing barrage of tariffs initiated by the United States of America may well be a blessing in disguise for African countries, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has said.
Alake made the remark at a fireside chat session on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) titled: “The Alchemy of Foreign Direct Investment – Turning Policies into Prosperity for Emerging Global Markets,” during the 14th edition of the AIM Congress held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates(UAE).

In his contribution to the chat on the impact of the tariffs on Africa’s economic climate,  Alake called on African countries to adopt an introspective approach by looking inwards and adjusting their domestic policies to focus more on intra African trade, with little dependence on external forces.
“We need to organise our economic imperatives to ensure a balance of trade and strengthen intra African trade among ourselves. The time is now,”he stated.

Referring to the bane of African countries whereby  rare mineral resources are carted offshore without value addition, he said the past approach of “pit to port, when resources were extracted and siphoned outside of the continent,” can no longer prevail.

He added:  “Interested investors who wish to come into Africa are welcome to set up their factories in Africa, add value to our mineral resources and create jobs here, rather than just shipping our wealth out of our shores.”
His position on protecting Africa’s mineral wealth was adopted by many African countries, especially the minerals producing countries, of which he serves as the pioneering chair of the African Minerals Strategic Group (AMSG). Nigeria’s policy on the minerals sector development, he said, is strictly geared toward value addition and boosting the local economy through job creation.

Other participants who spoke at the fireside chat included: Zaher Al Qatarneh, Secretary General of Jordan Ministry of Investment, Goncalo Terenas, Co-founder- Diaspora Prime Portugal, and Vadim Tretyakov, Minister of Investment and Development of the Sverdlovsk Region.

During the Congress, Alake toured the exhibition platform where Nigeria was represented by the Solid Minerals Development Ministry, Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), and Zamfara State government.
He also visited the booths of the private business groups from Nigeria, such as the Women Enterprise Alliance and Ghana’s Jant’s Fashion Collection.

The AIM Congress welcomed thousands of top government leaders from around the world, including corporate leaders, technology innovators, and sundry financial institutions and experts.
The aim of the yearly congress is to “ignite positive transformation by creating investment opportunities, upholding solidarity and developing economic relations among nations.”

The yearly AIM Congress took place at the impressive Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre under the broad theme: “Mapping the Future of Global Investment: The New Wave of a Globalized Investment Landscape – Towards a New Balanced World Structure.”