NAIROBI, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Wednesday urged African nations to pursue value addition of their agricultural and mineral resources in order to increase their exports to the rest of the world.
Peter Biwott, CEO Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency, told journalists in Nairobi that through processing of its raw materials the continent will also be able to cushion itself from the volatility of the international markets.
"Value addition is key to the economic transformation of the African continent," Biwott said during the third African Union interactive platform for partnerships coordination (AU-IPPC).
The two-day conference brought together African exhibitors who will participate in the EXPO 2020 Dubai which will be held between October 2020 and April 2021 where over 190 countries will be presented.
According to the export agency, Africa's industrialization drive will be accelerated through value addition of its natural resources.
"Africa can achieve a competitive advantage on many globally traded merchandise due to its huge resource base," Biwott added.
He observed that by spurring the development of processing industries, the continent will also address its challenge of youth unemployment.
Biwott said that the bulk of Kenya's exports consist of unprocessed agricultural products such as tea, coffee, fruits and vegetables.
"We can earn more foreign exchange by ensuring that we only export finished products," he added.
