Ending the Resource Curse

UNIDO Director-General contributes to the New York Times Op-Ed section.
Monday, 18 May 2009

Kandeh K. Yumkella is director
general of the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization.

The abundance of natural resources is often viewed as a “curse” rather than a “blessing.” They bring great benefits to those who import them, while the exporting country remains miles apart, in development terms. We can find striking examples of this on all continents.

The sub-region in Africa where I come from has its own natural resource dilemma. My home country, Sierra Leone, has the largest and purest reserves of titanium known. Guinea contains from 30 to 40 percent of the world’s bauxite. Liberia has significant deposit of the world’s iron ore. That’s three of the world’s most precious metals in three of its poorest countries.

Another problem is pollution. It has affected biodiversity in the Gulf of Guinea. Fish stocks are being depleted. Already contending with incursions into their fishing grounds from the North, the people in this part of West Africa who sustain themselves from the sea, lagoons, estuaries and creeks now must battle against the effect of pollution too. They are forced to look for other means to feed themselves. Let’s hope that these displaced fishermen do not become the next wave of 21st century pirates.

Please subscribe to our journal to read more.