UK Announces £300m Deals with Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya
The British Prime Minister Theresa May promised Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya a £300 million worth of new deals, expected to create about 3,000 jobs on the continent in the areas of trade, technology, security, and entrepreneurship.
May, who was on her first visit to the continent since she became Prime Minister five years ago, was accompanied by International Trade Minister, George Hollingbery, a 29-strong business delegation, and Minister for Africa, Harriett Baldwin.
She went to South Africa on Tuesday, from where she arrived Nigeria on Wednesday and proceeded to Kenya on Thursday. The prime minister was also accompanied by Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns and Lord Mayor of London Charles Bowman on the visit purposed to promote economic ties with Africa as Britain plans to leave the European Union by the end of March next year.
The UK-Africa trade relationship is currently worth more than £31 billion. “Africa is a young, vibrant and dynamic continent growing at an extraordinary rate. By 2050, one in four people on the planet will be African, a quarter of the world’s consumers,” a 10 Downing Street statement said.
“This represents a transformational opportunity for UK firms to increase trade with African countries,” it added.
The deals agreed in a variety of sectors were amid the UK’s ambition to be the largest G7 investor in Africa by 2022, and to prepare for an Africa Investment Summit planned to hold in the UK next year.
The prime minister said: “The deals being announced today demonstrate the already close trade and investment links between the UK and African countries, and the potential that exists for other UK businesses to make the most of the growing opportunities on the continent.
“With a shared passion for entrepreneurship, technology and innovation, now is the time for UK companies to strengthen their partnerships with Africa to boost jobs and drive prosperity both at home and overseas.”
The international trade minister also stated: “I am delighted to have joined the Prime Minister on this visit showcasing the very best of the UK-Africa partnership and all that Global Britain has to offer in the region.