Putin plans to move Russian factories to Africa, citing mutual interest

Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow that his country, hit by Western sanctions, is interested in relocating some of its factories to Africa, citing mutual interest. Putin stated Russian companies face numerous sanctions and want to transfer production infrastructure to African nations, emphasizing Russian businesses operate honestly and equally, unlike Western colonial practices, with 85% of trade settled in rubles. Russia has increased fertilizer exports to Africa from 1.5 million tons last year to over 2.2 million tons this year, and Putin expressed willingness to share agricultural technology, urging Africa to become a production market rather than just a consumer one.