Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadéra called on Russia on October 29 to turn political commitments into practical economic results, prioritising local resource processing, technology transfer and productive investment.
Speaking at the plenary session of the third Russia-Africa Summit, Touadéra said the gathering should mark a shift from promises to tangible outcomes. African populations expect real benefits from international partnerships, including those with Russia, he said.
He identified agriculture, mineral extraction and processing, energy and transport infrastructure as priority areas for deeper bilateral cooperation. Specifically, he pointed to the development of copper and uranium resources, solar energy projects and transport corridors that would improve the country’s access to seaports, according to remarks reported by Russian news agency TASS.
Touadéra emphasised the need to build local processing capacity, transfer technology, attract productive investment and create jobs. His remarks highlighted the importance of ensuring that African countries capture more value from their natural resources rather than relying primarily on raw material exports.
The two-day summit in Moscow brought together representatives from 48 African countries, including 22 represented by heads of state. Discussions covered trade, investment, energy, security, technology and humanitarian cooperation.
For the Central African Republic, closer economic ties with Russia form part of a broader effort to secure external support for infrastructure development and strengthen key productive sectors. Touadéra’s remarks underscored that cooperation must deliver measurable benefits for the country’s economy and population.
The summit concluded with the adoption of a joint declaration on future Russia-Africa cooperation and a partnership action plan covering 2027–2029.
