Britain to Boost Economic Partnership with Africa

Written by BHC

Friday, 17 December 2010 12:13

The UK’s Minister for Africa Henry Bellingham has emphasised the UK's desire to build an economic partnership with Africa.

In a recent keynote speech following a series of visits he made to the continent, Mr Bellingham said Britain wants to ensure British businesses benefit from the great investment opportunities in Africa, help Africa trade more across the continent and remove barriers to Africa’s goods in EU and global markets.

But Mr Bellingham noted the UK and Africa needed to work in partnership to remove certain obstacles on the way the continent’s economic growth:

"Instability and conflict, poor governance and corruption, abuses of human rights and poverty, the impact of climate change. These are obstacles that cannot be sidestepped, but must be overcome. If not, millions of Africans will continue to suffer terrible hardship as a consequence. This government will work with African partners to address these challenges,” he noted.

The British Minister also expressed joy at the outcome of the recent climate talks in Cancun for Africa. He noted that the Green Climate Fund will help Africa and the rest of the developing world to with their transition to low carbon.

Mr Bellingham has promised to visit every African nation, including Cameroon, before the end of his mandate.