UN Report Highlights Africa's Minimal Earnings from Green Supply Chains Despite Cobalt Production
A new report from UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), titled 'The Geoeconomics of Development,' reveals that Africa produces the majority of the world's cobalt but retains less than one percent of the value generated across global green-energy supply chains. The report, released in Geneva, examines how geopolitical competition, technological advancements, and evolving trade policies are reshaping economic opportunities for developing nations. It notes that while developing countries are major suppliers of critical minerals essential for electric vehicles, batteries, and renewable energy, the significant financial benefits are concentrated in developed economies that control processing, manufacturing, and advanced industrial technologies. Developing economies account for 60% of new foreign direct investment in critical minerals, yet developed economies capture approximately 70% of greenfield investment value in high-value strategic industries like semiconductors and AI infrastructure.
