UK TO HOST AFRICA INVESTMENT CONFERENCE

Africa map on globe with earth map in background

Britain is set to host the Africa Investment Conference in 2021. The Conference, held virtually, and hosted by the UK’s Department for International Trade will take place on 20 January 2021, and bring together UK and African businesses for a one-day event to explore opportunities for partnership and investment.

During the conference, businesses will be able to discuss emerging and relevant themes around doing business in Africa, and connect to investment opportunities across the African continent. It will be a platform for attendees to hear from UK companies about investing in and doing business across the continent, and to learn more about the UK’s new trade arrangements with Africa.

Four key sectors of activity will be focused on, driven by the findings of the recently established Africa Investors Group: sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, financial and professional services, and agriculture and agri-tech. Sustainable investment will help countries make the transition to a cleaner, greener economy, while also supporting recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The conference comes a year after the UK-Africa Investment Summit hosted in London, where 27 trade and investment deals worth £6.5bn and commitments worth £8.9bn were announced. In January, new trade agreements will be set up between the UK and 14 African partners, while 35 African partners will receive preferential access to the UK thanks to our trade presences scheme.

“Despite the current global economic context, the UK’s ambition to be Africa’s investment partner of choice has never been stronger,” said UK Minister for Investment, Gerry Grimstone. “Growing investment relationships will be central in helping economies recover and build back better from the disruption caused by Coronavirus.”

Added James Duddridge MP, Minister for Africa, “The UK is working with countries across Africa to build strong partnerships that secure investment and deliver more of the exports, jobs and economic growth that benefit both African and British businesses.”

Said Grimstone, “Africa’s economic potential and investment opportunities are huge, and our partnership will help ensure UK and African businesses are able to capitalise on trade and investment opportunities, now and in the future.”