UK's Theresa May will lead an ambitious trip to Africa this
week on her first visit to the continent as Prime Minister. She’ll be the first
British Prime Minister to visit Sub-Saharan Africa since 2013, and the first to
go to Kenya for over 30 years.
The Prime Minister’s central message will be focused on a
renewed partnership between the UK and Africa, which will seek to maximise
shared opportunities and tackle common challenges in a continent that is
growing at a rapid pace from the Sahara to South Africa.
She will use a speech on the opening day of the visit in
Cape Town to set out how to build a partnership side by side with Africa,
particularly by bringing the transformative power of private sector trade and
investment from the UK to a continent that is home to 16% of the world’s people
but just 3% of FDI and 3% of global goods trade.
Prime Minister Theresa May said:
Africa stands right on the cusp of playing a transformative
role in the global economy, and as longstanding partners this trip is a unique
opportunity at a unique time for the UK to set out our ambition to work even
closer together.
A more prosperous, growing and trading Africa is in all of
our interests and its incredible potential will only be realised through a
concerted partnership between governments, global institutions and business.
As we prepare to leave the European Union, now is the time
for the UK to deepen and strengthen its global partnerships. This week I am
looking forward to discussing how we can do that alongside Africa to help
deliver important investment and jobs as well as continue to work together to maintain
stability and security.
I am proud to be leading this ambitious trip to Africa and
to become the first UK Prime Minister in over 30 years to visit Kenya.
