Africa Is Rich in Resources… But Who Is Making the Real Money? Africa has the minerals, agriculture, energy, people, and market — but too much of the value is still created outside the continent. In this reaction, I respond to President William Ruto’s message at the United Nations about Africa’s resources, industrialization, and the need to create more value locally. For decades, many African countries have exported raw materials and imported finished products at a much higher value. The real opportunity is to move from simply exporting resources to processing, manufacturing, building factories, creating brands, and creating jobs in Africa. And when we trade with manufacturing countries like China, the conversation should not only be about importing finished goods. It should also be about machinery, technology, production systems, skills, and local manufacturing. The big question is: How can Africa turn its resources into African industries? What do you think Africa should manufacture first?