Lammy’s Maiden Tour of Rising Continent Aims to Reset UK-Africa Relations
At the start of November 2024, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy undertook his maiden visit to Africa since the Labor government took office. This trip will bring him to two economic powerhouses on the continent, namely, Nigeria and South Africa.
Prior to his voyage, FS Lammy pointed out the substantial opportunities arising from #EmergingAfrica and the single market enabled by the #AfCFTA accounting for 25% of the world population by 2050. In that regard, he advocated ‘a new approach to Africa’ and promised to ‘listen rather than tell.’
“Our new approach will deliver respectful partnerships that listen rather than tell, deliver long-term growth rather than short-term solutions and build a freer, safer, more prosperous continent.”
UK Financial Secretary David Lammy
Nigeria is projected to grow and rank as the 5th largest economy in the world by 2075. It is thus clear that the UK growth story will be inextricably intertwined with Africa, where it has long-standing historical ties with numerous African states being former British colonies.
Earlier in 2024, UK and Nigeria signed an augmented #FTA called Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (#ETIP). While in Nigeria, Lammy is expected to sign a ‘Strategic Partnership Agreement’ to bolster bilateral trade and fruitful partnerships in #ClimateFinance and #NationalSecurity.
South Africa is considered one of the most advanced economies in Africa and it is already UK’s largest trading partner on the continent. In South Africa, he presented a new ‘UK-South Africa Growth Plan’ and proposed a new UK-SA Trade Partnership Program. #ClimateAction, Healthcare and other sectors that can contribute to the economic growth of both sides will be considered.
During his visit in South Africa, FS Lammy, as well as Prince William, attended the Earthshot+ Conference in Cape Town (#EarthShotCapeTown) where he delivered a keynote address centered around the role that Britain can play to channel #GreenFinance into Africa in order to fight #ClimateChange.
The UK is working hard to ‘upgrade the operating system’ of the Commonwealth by making it more relevant to modern challenges and by enhancing its economic diplomacy function. In particular, UK reckons that #GreenGrowth and #ClimateAction will form the key orientations of its new partnership with Africa.