Russia to supply grains to African countries

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia would supply 50,000 tonnes of grains to some African countries in the next three months as part of supports to ensure food security within the continent.
Putin said this while declaring the Second Russia–Africa Summit and Economic and Humanitarian Forum 2023 open in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The main theme of this year’s forum is ‘Technology and Security for Sovereign Development that Benefits People.’ About 17 African countries are participating in the summit.

Putin said Russia would provide the grain products freely to consumers, adding that with its harvest records it was ready to replace Ukrainian grain exports to Africa on both commercial and aid basis.

“Russia holds a 20 per cent share of the global wheat market. In the first six months of 2023, it has already exported 10 million tonnes of grain to Africa.

“Russia is ready to provide Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Somalia, and Eritrea with 25-50 thousand tonnes of grain each in the next three to four months and ensure its free delivery to consumers,” Putin said.

Also at the summit, Vice President Kashim Shettima assured stakeholders that the Tinubu administration is determined to revive the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), particularly by engaging with key stakeholders in the industry.

Shettima stated this at a meeting with the management of Russian Aluminium Company – UC RUSAL and other stakeholders in the project, on the sideline of the ongoing Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The meeting with the stakeholders was in furtherance of the efforts by the government to reactivate production lines at ALSCON by re-engaging with UC RUSAL and other partners in the resuscitation of the plant.

Speaking after a presentation by the UC RUSAL management, Shettima noted the enormous benefits for the economy in many aspects such as in the area of energy transition, job creation both directly and indirectly, and its impact in the development of small businesses is also huge.

“The sooner we get this plant back to production, the better for everyone. We need to walk the talk; the Nigerian people deserve better,” Shettima said.

He urged all the stakeholders to expedite work on the plan of action to restart production at the company.

Other officials at the meeting were Nigeria’s Ambassador to Russia, Amb. Shehu Abdullahi; Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, Amb. Yusuf Tugar; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr Gabriel Aduda; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mrs Mary Ogbe, and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr Gbenga Komolafe, among others.

Meanwhile, Putin noted that the potential for trade and economic cooperation between Russia and African countries is much higher than the trade turnover of $18 billion seen in 2022.

He restated his country’s commitment to food security in Africa and beyond, stressing that “Russia will continue to work towards shaping a more equitable global food distribution system.”

He added that Russia will increase its support for Africa which accounts for 65 per cent of the world’s arable land and around 10 per cent of domestic renewable freshwater sources, noting that “its huge potential for the further development of agriculture.”

Putin also announced the preparation of approximately 30 energy projects involving Russia in Africa, with a total capacity of around 3.7 gigawatts across 16 African countries.

He said Russian oil and gas exports to Africa had increased by 2.6 times, adding that Russia could provide Africa with unique non-energy applications of nuclear technology, including medicine.

“A Russian industrial zone near the Suez Canal in Egypt will soon launch, and its products will be exported throughout Africa. Russia is ready to develop Africa’s financial infrastructure and connect them to the Russian payment system. Russia promotes the establishment of relations between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Africa and will share integration experience of the Union State of Russia and Belarus,” Putin said.

EAEU is a free trade agreement that came into being in 2015 to increase economic cooperation and raise the standard of living of its members. Member countries include Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

He, however, suggested the establishment of intergovernmental commissions with all interested countries.

He pointed out that nearly 35,000 African students were studying in Russia, and the number was constantly growing.

“The quota has increased by 2.5 times and will exceed 4,700 persons in 2024,” Putin said.

He also said Russia would supply 10 mobile laboratories and train hundreds of specialists as part of a joint programme to combat infections with 2.1 billion rubles allocated for it.

Russia proposes to intensify cooperation in sport and invites African youth to participate in Russian sport events.