UK To Host Africa Investment Conference Early Next Year

The UK’s Department for International Trade will virtually host the Africa Investment Conference in late January 2021, an event that will bring together both the UK and African businesses. This one-day virtual event will explore different opportunities for partnership and investment.

The virtual conference is a follow up to last year’s UK-Africa Investment Summit that was held in London by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Trade and investment deals valued at £6.5bn alongside commitments worth £8.9bn were made public.

At the event, businesses will discuss the themes around doing business in Africa while connecting to opportunities offered by the continent.

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

James Duddridge MP, Minister for Africa at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) added that, “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. January’s event will once again bring together British and African businesses and entrepreneurs, to support more prosperous African countries.”

The Africa Investment Conference is the platform for attendees to interact directly with UK companies as they share the opportunities and challenges faced when investing in the continent. Firms will learn more about the UK’s new trade agreements with Africa as well as the support offered by the UK Government to investors and businesses.

The event will explore the resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability of all investments made across the continent as it transitions into a cleaner and greener economy. The Africa Investors Group is a collection of the largest UK investors across Africa and focus on:

• Renewable energy
• Agriculture and agri-tech
• sustainable infrastructure
• Financial and professional services

As part of the January developments, new trade agreements will kick in involving the UK and 14 African partners with more countries expected to join. 35 African countries will get preferential trade access in line with the country’s trade presence scheme.