MOSCOW, October 28. /TASS/. Russian companies do not engage in the "predatory exploitation" of natural resources in Africa, but instead increase local processing of raw materials, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum.

"One of the main areas of the Russia-Africa partnership has traditionally been the extraction and processing of mineral resources. This is a systemic, vital sector for many of the continent's economies, bringing real dividends and revenues into the budgets of African nations," the head of state noted. "And specialized Russian companies, which have a long and successful history of interaction, are continuing this work with African countries, continuing the implementation of a number of major projects," Putin said.

"At the same time, our business does not engage in the predatory, neo-colonial exploitation of natural and human resources but increases the processing of raw materials on-site, thereby creating new jobs and generating tax revenues across all levels of the budget systems of African nations," the Russian leader stressed.