‘Grab African opportunities’ says minister

FOREIGN office minister Mark Simmonds MP is urging companies in the North West to embrace export opportunities in Africa, and in five countries in particular.

Mr Simmonds, who is on a mini-tour of the North – he was in Manchester on Tuesday before heading to Leeds and Newcastle – said opportunities abound for “ambitious, enterprising and entrepreneurial North West companies.”

He presented to around 30 companies at an event on Trafford Park organised bymark simmonds UK Trade & Investment, the government’s export agency, before attending an event at Barclays in Manchester and a private dinner hosted by the bank, law firm DLA Piper and PwC.

He told TheBusinessDesk that the Foreign Office has identified five “high level prosperity partnerships” with governments in Tanzania, Mozambique, Ivory Coast, Angola and Ghana, which were ripe with opportunities.

“These are safe, stable countries, and we are here to help North West businesses make the right connections will also provide advice and some export finance support.”

He added: “If you are ambitious business in Manchester or the North West, you should consider looking at Africa as a potential new export market for your goods and services. This is not just oil and gas, it’s education, agriculture, chemicals, retail. And it is all part of the journey of Africa’s growth and it’s people becoming more affluent and a rising middle class.”

Attending the UKTI meeting was  Manchester Business School, which generates revenue of £1.5m per year from African companies.

Also present was was Knowsley-based Clarke Energy, the authorised global distributor and service partner for GE Power & Water’s gas-powered reciprocating engines.  

The family-owned business has just announced a major project in Algeria to show the benefits of using GE’s gas engines as a cost-effective alternative to diesel generators and larger gas turbines.

Mr Simmonds told guests: “I am focused on delivering a step change in the business UK companies do in African markets, which I recognise are not necessarily countries exporters would naturally look to, and how the British Government can support them

“There are many opportunities across Africa where UK companies can provide the investment and expertise to tap into agricultural, manufacturing and service industries. When I visited Cote d’Ivoire in January for a major investment forum, UK companies outstripped others in their business in mining and housing amongst others.”

UKTI International Trade Adviser Lynne Gillen added: “While not always the easiest continent in which to do business, there are growing opportunities in Africa which UKTI can help companies to make the most of.

“Recently we have worked with Clarke Energy on visits, research and market opportunities, and, thanks to UKTI contacts, they recently had the High Commissioner for South Africa open one of their trade events.”

Close