Morocco is positioning itself as a driver of African industrialization, betting on an economic model that keeps more of the continent’s mineral wealth on home soil rather than shipping it abroad in raw form. That was the central message delivered Tuesday in Rabat by Leila Benali, Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, as she opened the third International Mining Conference.
Speaking to an audience of mining executives, investors and policymakers from across the continent, Benali said the kingdom has deliberately chosen to build an open, integrated industrial model, deeply rooted in Africa and connected to global value chains. The phrase captures Morocco’s broader ambition: process minerals locally instead of exporting them untouched, and turn the country into a genuine link in international industrial supply chains rather than a simple source of raw materials.
The minister outlined several conditions she considers essential to reaching that goal. Responsible mining practices topped her list, as environmental and social standards increasingly shape where global capital flows. She also pointed to the need for stronger traceability across mineral supply chains, a growing concern for international buyers and regulators who want clear answers on where raw materials come from and how they were extracted. Access to sustainable financing, Benali added, remains a precondition for modernizing mining infrastructure and shifting the sector toward cleaner, more transparent practices.
Other speakers, including mining federation officials and business leaders, echoed her concerns. Many argued that Africa’s mineral wealth is still badly under-leveraged, with too many producing countries exporting raw ore while the refining, processing and value-added manufacturing happen elsewhere. They called for a stronger push toward local industrialization, expanded refining capacity, and deeper integration into supply chains that have grown increasingly competitive and geopolitically sensitive.
The third edition of the International Mining Conference underscores Morocco’s ambition to become a regional hub bridging African mineral resources and the demands of global markets. Whether that ambition translates into concrete investment and jobs will likely shape the kingdom’s economic trajectory, and that of its African partners, for years to come.