'Not just rocks.' Africa needs to up its game in terms of exports to the US, says Patel

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel said on Thursday Africa needed more industrialisation and beneficiation to take place on the continent so that it doesn't just end up exporting "rocks" to other countries such as the US.

Patel said Africa needed to industrialise and produce value-added products, which could be achieved through trading around the world, as well as finding partnerships in terms of US investment and technology.

Speaking at a briefing during the first session of the 20th Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum at Nasrec, Patel said: