South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on Namibia and South Africa to move beyond exporting raw materials, emphasizing the need to stop 'exporting opportunities while importing prosperity'.

During the fourth session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission in Pretoria, Ramaphosa highlighted the importance of regional value chains and industrialisation to capture greater value from Africa's natural resources.He stressed that Africa's challenge lies not in possessing resources but in transforming them through beneficiation and manufacturing.

Ramaphosa pointed to the Orange Basin as a key opportunity for an integrated regional energy economy, advocating for refining, innovation, and advanced manufacturing to create jobs and reduce unemployment.

The speech underscored the shared history of the two nations in resisting colonialism and their collective responsibility to drive development and stability across the African continent.The call to action reflects broader concerns about Africa's economic future and the need for self-sufficiency in resource value creation.