Russia has identified Africa as a strategic partner for expanding agricultural trade, attracting joint investments and developing local technological capabilities, as Moscow seeks to deepen economic ties with the continent despite Western sanctions.
Deputy Chief of Staff of the Russian Presidential Executive Office, Dr Maxim Oreshkin, outlined the opportunities at a Russia-Africa Forum Partners Hub-level meeting in Moscow ahead of the third Russia-Africa Summit scheduled for October 28 and 29.
Oreshkin said Russia was ready to support African countries through joint investments, technology transfer and skills development in strategic sectors, including energy, agriculture, artificial intelligence (AI) and food security.
He disclosed that Russia’s food imports were valued at approximately $43 billion in 2025, with African suppliers accounting for about eight per cent, a market share he said could increase through expanded production, improved logistics and stronger commercial partnerships.
He listed fruits, nuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa, tea, spices, vegetable oils, oilseeds, fish and seafood among African products with potential for greater access to the Russian market.
According to him, Russian companies are also prepared to invest in African agricultural markets, establish joint ventures and share technologies for crop production, livestock farming and the use of mineral fertilisers to boost local food production.
Oreshkin said the proposed partnerships were intended to go beyond conventional trade to strengthen domestic industries, develop local expertise and enable African countries to derive greater economic benefits from their natural and human resources.
He added that Russia remained committed to expanding economic relations with Africa and South Asia despite the challenges posed by Western sanctions against Moscow.
On energy, Oreshkin identified reliable and affordable electricity as a prerequisite for industrialisation, digital transformation and improved living standards across Africa.
He said Russia was willing to cooperate with African countries in conventional energy, liquefied natural gas, hydropower, renewable energy and nuclear power, with an emphasis on developing local industries and training skilled personnel.
He cited Russia’s nuclear power project in Egypt, valued at approximately $25 billion in his presentation, as an example of cooperation that could extend to scientific research, workforce development and related industries such as nuclear medicine.
Oreshkin also highlighted the scale of Africa’s electricity deficit, noting that about 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lacked access to electricity.
He said addressing the shortfall would require sustained investments in power generation and distribution, alongside partnerships that equip local institutions and businesses to manage energy infrastructure.
On digital technology, the Russian official advocated cooperation that would enable African countries to develop artificial intelligence systems and digital platforms adapted to their languages, cultures and national priorities.
Using Russian technology company Yandex and its AI assistant, Alice, as an example, he said African countries could develop similar solutions through partnerships involving domestic technology firms, researchers and specialists.
He also called for greater digital sovereignty, arguing that countries needed stronger control over their data, information systems and digital platforms.
Meanwhile, former African Union Commission chairperson and Chancellor of the University of Limpopo, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, urged Russia to prioritise capacity building among African youths, saying skills development was essential to the continent’s economic transformation.
The Vice-Chancellor of Kaduna University, Prof. Abdullahi Musa, called for a clear action plan to translate the proposed areas of cooperation into measurable outcomes.
Musa stressed that education and universities should play central roles in advancing collaboration in agriculture, artificial intelligence, security and other strategic sectors.
“If we are to move forward, in terms of agriculture, artificial intelligence, human rights and security, you have to prioritise education,” he said.
He added that universities could contribute through research, innovation, skills development and knowledge transfer.
Separately, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali Muhammad Ali, called for stronger direct collaboration between African and Russian media organisations to improve news accuracy, combat misinformation and reduce dependence on third-party sources for international reporting.
Speaking at the Russia-Africa Media Forum in Moscow, Ali said direct exchanges between news organisations would enable journalists to obtain information from primary sources and reduce the risk of distortion in cross-border coverage.
He, however, emphasised that information received through international partnerships must still undergo independent verification and editorial scrutiny.
Ali warned that the expansion of digital media had weakened traditional editorial controls, allowing unverified information to spread rapidly, and urged Nigerian media organisations to strengthen their fact-checking and professional standards.
A representative of Russia’s media policy authorities, Ekaterina Larina, also advocated greater cooperation in fact-checking and combating disinformation.
Larina proposed a journalism award recognising African journalists reporting on Russia and Russian journalists covering African affairs, saying it could encourage professional excellence and improve mutual understanding.
Similarly, a representative of Russian news agency TASS, Sergey Kuzovnikov, said direct engagement between media organisations was essential to reducing reporting errors and strengthening relations between Russia and African countries.
The discussions underscored the potential for broader cooperation across trade, energy, agriculture, technology, education and media, with participants stressing the need to translate the proposals into practical partnerships that deliver measurable benefits to both sides.
