Once prospering from the gold trade, Mali is today recapturing its old standing as the Empire of Gold. Recent discoveries of new gold deposits have resulted in Mali's gold production increasing four-fold over the past five years. Mali currently ranks third in Africa in terms of gold production behind South Africa and Ghana. Gold now boasts the second largest export earnings after cotton, gold export being a key industry supporting the Malian economy. Projections are for substantial amounts of gold to be produced from the four areas of Sadiola, Syama, Morila and Yatela, all of which are still at a development stage. Foreign investment, which has dramatically expanded as a result of the Malian government's relaxing of investment regulations, has contributed greatly to exploitation of these resources.

Other Mineral Resources
While gold is currently the top-ranked mineral export, much is expected of as yet unexploited resources such as bauxite, uranium, iron ore, and oil.

Mali has approximately 46 million hectares of arable land, and is known as the second largest cotton exporter in Africa after Egypt. In these last few years, more than 600 thousand tons of cotton has been produced annually, Mali's gross domestic product now revolving around cotton production. In addition to cotton export, the cotton processing industry is also currently being developed, foreign investment in this direction being greatly welcomed.

Other Agricultural Produce
The main agricultural produce is corn and other cereals for domestic consumption. Rice production is on the increase following the development of areas on the Niger River upstream from the capital Bamako. Fruits such as mango and orange, a variety of different potatoes, and 4,000 tons annually of honey and 200 tons annually of beeswax are produced. Mali's agricultural industry, currently in the process of industrialization, is one sphere that has long awaited foreign investment and technological assistance.