There are a number of roles that Nordic countries could play as partners of mineral rich African nations, as the global race to secure battery minerals intensifies, say NAI researchers Patience Mususa and Grasian Mkodzongi.The Nordics could intensify the push for more global transparency around taxation to avoid tax loopholes that make it difficult for African states to finance development. Also, Finland and Sweden are among few EU countries which have a mining industry. There are opportunities for them to partner with state corporates in the mining sector in Southern Africa in new exploration and mining development, the researchers say.