Africa is the continent that has almost all the world's reserves of the scarcest and most precious minerals, the platinium group minerals: platinium, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, tantalum, and osmium. They are used in minute amounts in electronic and space-age materials, medical instruments, and other high precision devices. Africa produces more than 60 metal and mineral products and is a major producer of several of the world?s most important minerals and metals including Gold, PGE?s, Diamonds, Tantalite, Titanium, Uranium, Manganese, Chromium, Nickel, Bauxite and Cobalt. Africa's contribution to the world's major metals (copper, lead and zinc) is less than 7%. As a result silver production is low (less than 3% of the world's production) due to the fact that most silver is produced as a by product of lead; zinc and copper mining. Although underexplored, Africa hosts about 30% of the planet's mineral reserves, including 40% of gold, 60% cobalt and 90% of the world's PGM reserves, making it a strategic producer of these precious metals. Travel to Africa! MIND OUR WORDS!!! The increase in exploration and mine development in Africa has been primarily focussed on gold and diamond exploration but due to explosive market developments in China and India, suddenly iron ore, bauxite and copper are in great demand. Undoubtedly, there is still great scope for these commodities, but riding on the back of improving base metal prices, this sector will see a dramatic increase in activities. Mozambique, Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Mali, Nigeria and Madagascar are but a few countries that have tremendous potential for base metal and industrial mineral deposits. Lately Chinese and Indian companies come to West Africa with cash in the pocket to purchase oil, metal and mineral concessions. This is what Africans understand: "CASH & CARRY" and not empty promises from US and European companies to give shares and future profit. The African is hungry since long time and has an empty belly. They say: "paper walks, money talks". That is the language the Chinese and Indians understand and step by step they obtain one after the other concession for a nickel and a dime and THE WEST will fish behind the net if they don't act fast. This endangers the political situation in several fragile countries as certain powers are subtle trying to destabilize governments in mining countries to later secure permits and concessions from present opposition parties and other "greedy" organization. South Africa, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia and the DRC dominated the African Mining industry, whilst countries such as Angola, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Zambia and Botswana rely heavily on the mining industry as a major foreign currency earner. Unfortunately, several African civil wars are funded by (and often caused by) some of these commodities, in particular diamonds and oil. Major new mines opening in Africa or under development are distributed between South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Tanzania, and Gabon producing gold, diamonds, niobium products, PGE?s, chrome and base metals. Major discoveries over the last year include the discovery of several potentially diamondiferous kimberlites in Mauritania, and still in the diamond scene, the potential marine deposits in offshore southern Namibia. Africa is blessed with sunshine, unique eco-climates and a natural abundance of ?fruits? unseen in the western world. The opportunities are enormous because the global village is always looking to taste new things. There are so many examples of natural products, unknown to most, which have not been commercially exploited. The possibilities are, to say the least, very exciting. The indigenous people and wild animals eat these delicacies but do not have the knowledge or capacity to develop these products to sustain the volume required in a "niche" market. Many of these crops evolved in the specific environment in which they grow. The future lies with those who have the vision and drive to develop these new products.