By Our Staff Reporter
BELGIUM
Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Co-President of the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa has called for increased investment in infrastructure, skills development and financing to enable African, Caribbean and Pacific countries to establish viable critical mineral processing industries.
Addressing a session of the ongoing OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly in Brussels, on Wednesday, 11th November, 2026, Tayebwa observed that although global demand for critical raw materials continues to grow, mineral-producing countries need deliberate investment to move into higher-value stages of production.
He identified reliable energy, efficient transport networks, skilled workers and access to affordable financing as essential requirements for developing competitive local processing industries.
The discussion also highlighted concerns over declining investment in critical minerals. Citing International Energy Agency figures, the session noted a 9 per cent decline in global critical mineral investment in 2025, despite rising demand for these resources.
Tayebwa called for stronger OACPS-EU cooperation to mobilise investment and support the development of local industries capable of processing mineral resources within producing countries.
He emphasised that such partnerships should generate measurable economic benefits, including employment, business opportunities for local enterprises and increased national revenues.
The engagement forms part of broader parliamentary efforts to advance cooperation on critical raw materials and ensure that resource-rich countries participate more meaningfully in the global value chains.
