Russia, Africa continue to lower trade barriers, increase share of settlements in rubles - Lavrov

CAIRO. Dec 22 (Interfax) - Russia and African countries continue to lower trade barriers and filling legislative gaps in the protection of investments and customs regulations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"Respective authorities continue to eliminate trade barriers and fill gaps in bilateral laws and regulations, including those on taxation, protection of investments, and customs and antimonopoly rules," Lavrov said at a plenary meeting of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum's ministerial conference on Saturday.

Russia believes it's important to develop sustainable and reliable mechanisms of mutual settlements in national currencies to ensure stable trade and economic operations and to protect investments, he said.

"We positively assess the increasing share of settlements in Russian rubles in trade between our countries. The share has grown to 84% in January-October 2025, compared to last year," Lavrov said.

Russia and Africa are developing cooperation in nuclear and other energy and interact in the provision of food security, he said. "We are supplying fertilizers and diesel fuel, including on a humanitarian basis, to a number of African states," Lavrov said.

Russia is ready to share technologies and competences with African countries to help maintain their food sovereignty, he said.