Yes, of course, there's no doubt that the extraction and trade of natural resources can be a great source of wealth and development, revenues for government—much-needed revenues in many of these countries—and of course, a source of jobs. The artisanal and small-scale mining sector, for example, is a job provider—just in central Africa alone—to around 15 million people directly. Indirectly, almost 200 million people are relying on the sector.
It's also a big opportunity to transfer skills to developing countries, as well as infrastructure. Much of the infrastructure that has been built in these areas, including energy and roads, is a direct result of the extraction and trade of mineral resources.