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Conference

The Africa Roundtable N°9

New Models for Africa-Europe Critical Mineral Partnerships

The Africa Roundtable N°9

December 4, 2025

Berlin

By 2050, global demand for critical raw materials will increase by 500 percent, with approximately one-third of these resources located in Africa. Yet, despite holding such large reserves, the continent has captured only a fraction of their economic value, while global competition intensifies, particularly from China, and Europe struggles to secure diversified supply chains.

The ninth edition of The Africa Roundtable brought together leaders from politics, business, and civil society to reimagine this relationship. How can Europe and Africa build partnerships that turn raw material wealth into local value creation?

We explored innovative cooperation models focusing on the foundations of sustainable industrialization: infrastructure investment, technology transfer, and workforce development. Drawing on analyses from our knowledge partners McKinsey & Company and ACET, discussions addressed investment barriers and opportunities for processing raw materials locally.

Program

Welcome
Christine Mhundwa
Moderator, Deutsche Welle
Opening Remarks
New Models for Africa-Europe Critical Mineral Partnerships
Rhoda Berger
CEO, Global Perspectives Initiative
H.E. Francisca Tatchouop Belobe
Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, and Minerals (ETTIM), African Union
Setting the Scene
Why Africa's Critical Minerals Matter for Europe's Future
Thomas Schäfer
Member of the Board, Volkswagen Group; Chairman, Sub-Saharan Africa Initiative of German Businesses
John Asafu-Adjaye
Senior Fellow, African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET)
Rethinking Frameworks
Policy and Financing Models that Work for Both Continents
Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven
Managing Director, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Amadou Hott
Chair of the Africa Advisory Board, Vision Invest
Yvonne Ike
Managing Director, Bank of America (BofA)
Finding Entry Points
Actionable Pathways for Value Creation
Agesan Rajagopaul
Partner, McKinsey & Company
Wolfgang Niedermark
Member of the Executive Board, The Voice of German Industry (BDI)
H.E. Stefan Rouenhoff
Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE)

Contact Persons

Stephanie Igunbor, s.igunbor@globalperspectives.org

Supported by

ACET African Center for Economic Transformation

Gates Foundation

GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit

McKinsey & Company

Mo Ibrahim Foundation

BDI Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie

BMZ Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung

Conference

In this large-scale format, we offer a platform for experiences and expertise. In close cooperation with our partner organizations, we gather many people around one shared topic.

Program Archive

Publications
Towards Value Addition for Africa’s Critical Minerals
Key Issues for Policymakers

This paper explores how Africa can add value to its critical minerals, boost local processing, and drive green industrialization while strengthening regional and global supply chains.

Circle
Rethinking Development Policy
Strategies for a Changing World

We discussed with State Secretary Niels Annen how development policy can be integrated into networked foreign, security, and economic policies.

Circle
Impact of Global Trade Relations on International Development

US tariffs changes are causing new uncertainties in global trade. Together with ONE and Pinelopi K. Goldberg, we discussed how international development policy needs to be realigned.

Salon
Driving Growth: Local Value Chains & Global Trade
Berlin Global Dialogue

As traditional trade relations shift, strengthening local value chains, enhancing trade agreements, and mobilizing private capital are key to building more resilient and mutually beneficial economies.

Digital Salon
Global Perspectives on: Green Finance
What's missing in Green Finance?

Our speaker James Irungu Mwangi shared his perspective on how to accelerate climate action and investment across Africa. Together, we discussed what it will take to mobilize the green finance needed.

Circle
Connecting Global Talent
Building Ecosystems for Labor Migration

Germany is a country of immigration. Building on our Commission's recommendations for action, we discussed ways to better manage and communicate labor migration.

Salon
Advancing Space Partnerships Between Africa and Europe

Europe and Africa have the chance to advance technology and shape the future of the global space economy together through cooperation.

Publications
The Africa Roundtable N°8
Action Recommendations

Amid shifting global dynamics, investing in Africa’s strengths in renewable energy and climate action is more urgent than ever. The action recommendations of the eighth conference.

Salon
The Future of Global Cooperation: Redefining Germany’s Role
Hamburg Sustainability Conference 2025

How can Germany build strong, sustainable relationships with countries in the Global South that benefit both sides? At HSC 2025, we continued the dialogue on the Commission's recommendations.

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Global Perspectives Initiative is a non-profit and independent dialogue platform based in Berlin, Germany. Global Perspectives works towards enhanced engagement and responsibility for sustainable development by German and European decision-makers and aims to strengthen African perspectives in policy making. To this end, Global Perspectives regularly brings together decision-makers from business, academia, politics, media, and civil society to discuss new approaches, provide new impulses and raise awareness on the common opportunities and challenges the two neighboring continents are facing.

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