U.S.-Africa: Sustainable Critical Minerals Partnership

Ellington Arnold
Manager, U.S.-Africa Business Center, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Published

April 07, 2025

Critical minerals power the industries driving modern life—from healthcare, smart devices, clean energy, and increasingly, the defense industrial base. As demand for critical minerals skyrockets, so does the urgency to build a more reliable, ethical, and resilient supply chain. That’s why the U.S.-Africa Business Center is leading efforts to strengthen partnerships between U.S. companies and African nations, home to 30% of the world’s mineral reserves. Together, we can unlock new opportunities, support sustainable development, and enhance global economic security.

Leading the Conversation at Mining Indaba 2025

At this year’s Mining Indaba, the premier global mining investment conference, it was clear just how essential Africa’s critical minerals sector has become to the future of U.S. business and global supply chains. With over 11,000 participants and 70 African ministers in attendance, the event reified Africa’s growing role in global mineral markets and underscored the need for long-term collaboration.

While engaging with business leaders, government officials, and financial institutions to drive investment, align policies, and promote sustainable mining, the U.S. Chamber continued to reiterate that the U.S. can be a trusted partner—helping African nations maximize their resources while ensuring U.S. industries have access to the minerals they need.

Taking Action: The Critical Minerals Working Group

Talk is important. Action is essential. That’s why the Chamber has launched the Africa Critical Minerals Working Group, an initiative dedicated to ensuring that business and policy align to create a stronger, more sustainable supply chain. The Working Group’s priorities are:

Smart Policies That Work: Ensuring regulations support investment, sustainability, and responsible resource development, aligned with the Africa Mining Vision.
Real Investment That Delivers: Connecting companies to financing through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, the Export-Import Bank of the U.S., and public-private partnerships.
Building Skills and Infrastructure: Supporting African nations as they develop local workforces, enhance transportation and energy networks, and integrate into the global supply chain.
Stronger Supply Chains: Creating investment-friendly policies that secure access to essential minerals—while ensuring African economies benefit from long-term growth.

A Game-Changer for U.S.-Africa Trade

A strong example of the Working Group’s vision in action is the Lobito Corridor —one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects taking place in Africa. This U.S.- and EU-backed initiative aims to connect the port of Lobito on Angola's Atlantic coast to Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, potentially extending to the Indian Ocean through Tanzania, unlocking far greater trade and resource transport. Once complete, the landmark corridor will make it easier, faster, and more cost-effective to move essential minerals from Africa’s resource-rich interior to global markets. A recent policy dialogue with Zambia’s Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane, highlighted the corridor’s projected economic impact, with estimates indicating a potential GDP boost of several percentage points due to increased trade, mineral exports, and investment in industrialization.

This project is about more than just moving goods: it’s about economic transformation. By improving transport, cutting costs, and increasing investment, the Lobito Corridor is unlocking opportunities for both African and U.S. businesses across sectors like logistics, energy, and agribusiness.

Strengthening U.S.-Côte d’Ivoire Partnerships

Beyond projects like the Lobito Corridor, the U.S. Chamber is working country by country to expand business and trade opportunities. We recently hosted a high-level roundtable featuring Côte D’Ivoire’s Minister of Mines, Petroleum, and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly, to discuss how Côte d’Ivoire is emerging as a key player in the global minerals market. For U.S. businesses, this means opportunities to invest, collaborate, and innovate.

Additional convenings include a roundtable with H.E. Ralambofiringa David, Madagascar’s Minister of Industrialization and Trade, and Minister of Mines Olivier Herindrainy Rakotomalala. This delegation not only highlighted Madagascar’s industrialization efforts, the Ministers also pointed to the transformational impact of a U.S. investment in a critical minerals project that is the largest in the nation’s history.

As we continue strengthening economic ties across the continent, the Chamber remains committed to engaging key markets and fostering deeper partnerships between U.S. businesses and African economies.

Critical Minerals: What’s Next?

At the Advancing Collaboration on Critical Minerals event in Washington, D.C., industry leaders, policymakers, and investors discussed what it takes to build a better critical minerals future:

Diversifying Supply Chains: Reducing reliance on single-source suppliers through strategic partnerships.
Fixing Investment Gaps: Strengthening financial institutions to attract and de-risk private investment.
Bringing Government and Business Together: Public-private collaboration is key to responsible, long-term resource development.
Powering the Future with Innovation: Leveraging Silicon Valley expertise to improve resource mapping, mining efficiency, and supply chain transparency.

The Bottom Line

The future of critical minerals isn’t just about resources; it’s about relationships. By fostering strategic, sustainable, and mutually beneficial partnerships, the U.S.-Africa Business Center is ensuring that the U.S. remains globally competitive, African economies thrive, and global supply chains stay secure.

With continued engagement at Mining Indaba, the Lobito Corridor, and country-focused initiatives like Côte d’Ivoire’s mining sector development, the Chamber is leading the way toward a stronger, smarter, and more sustainable future for critical minerals.