economy 24 July 2026 Parliament of Uganda
ACP Nations Urged to Prioritize Value Addition to Boost Economies
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, in his capacity as President of the OACPS Parliamentary Assembly, has called on member nations to shift their focus towards industrialization and value addition. He emphasized the need to move beyond exporting raw materials, particularly minerals, to unlock greater economic benefits and create jobs. Source: https://www.parliament.go.ug/index.php/news/4505/tayebwa-urges-acp-bloc-embrace-value-addition-end-raw-mineral-exports
Uganda’s Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has issued a strong call to action for the 79-member Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) bloc. Addressing the 121st Council of Ministers in Brussels, Tayebwa urged member states to place trade, industrialization, and value addition at the forefront of their developmental strategies.
Tayebwa highlighted the critical issue of exporting raw, unprocessed minerals by many developing nations. This practice, long advocated against by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, significantly limits the economic prosperity of Africa and similar regions. Despite controlling a substantial portion of global mineral wealth, estimated at US$29.5 trillion, African countries gain only a fraction of the potential value from these resources.
The current model sees ores and concentrates exported, allowing importing nations to capture the lion’s share of the value chain through manufacturing and processing. This means not only economic value but also employment opportunities and industrial growth are being exported alongside raw materials.
Tayebwa cited the Democratic Republic of Congo’s experience, where increased domestic processing of cobalt has led to a significant boost in national revenues. He also used the example of the coffee market, where producing countries receive a mere US$25 billion out of a global market worth US$465 billion, with Africa taking only 3% of that figure.
The Deputy Speaker cautioned that the OACPS risks losing its relevance if it does not redefine its priorities to focus on tangible economic issues that directly impact the livelihoods of its citizens – creating jobs and strengthening regional industries.
This push for value addition aims to ensure that OACPS member states can derive greater economic benefits from their natural resources, fostering sustainable development and improved living standards for their populations. The organization, which unites countries from Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, seeks to enhance cooperation in trade, sustainable development, and political dialogue.
Source: Parliament of Uganda