UK-Africa Trade Summary London, Zimbabwe’s Talking Points, By Elliot Pfebve | FULL TEXT
23 January 2020
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Trade agreement:

  1. UK will adopt the EPA , Africa and EU agreement of 2000 under a transitional protection mechanism to ensure continuity of trade.
  2. UK will engage Africa through AfCFTA to determine agreeable terms that ensure partners of equal.

Africa Development Bank Initiatives: .

Elliott Pfebve
  1. ADB to launch Youth Development Banks to support youth entrepreneurship projects across the continent.
  2. ADB intends to setup Diaspora Development Fund, to enable people Diaspora to bring to Africa much needed entrepreneurial talent. Diaspora remittance for SubSaharan Africa reached $47 billion in 2019. UK Diaspora remittance contributed $6.7 billion to Africa. [Suggestion to securities Diaspora remittance for infrastructure development in Africa]
    Africa Key Statistics:
  3. Africa population stands at 1.3 billion and expected to double by 2050
  4. UK constitute 67% of beef export and 41% of tea from Africa
  5. Inter African trade stands at pelt 15%
  6. Africa GDP combined stands at $3 trillion; this is 33% increase over a decade.
  7. 19 out of 53 Commonwealth member states are in Africa
  8. Commonwealth population combined is 2.5 billion people.
  9. UK trade with Africa has dropped from 5% to 4% of total volume from a decade ago.
  10. Minister of FCO & DFID for Africa, Stephenson announced a recruitment of over 400 staff to be based globally in embassies to boost trade, including locals and UK based.

The cost of corruption:

  1. Africa combined FDI 2018 was $46 billion
  2. Africa illicit outflows due to corruption & money laundering $65 billion
  3. UK has repatriated over £500 million to Angola from looted money, which was deposited in London Banks. UK will continue to fight corruption and return looted funds to Africa.
  4. Human rights violations a challenge

Some of the recommendations:

  1. UK must lead in the fight against corruption, human rights violations and the rule of
    law and this must underpin future UK- Africa Trade Agreements in the post Brexit
    era (MDC Business & Trade Envoy, recommendations, E. Pfebve)
  2. EPA agreement and WTO Article 24 must guide the transitional mechanism of trade
    between Africa and UK in the post- Brexit era as a continuity.
  3. The post Brexit Agreement must be inclusive to ensure that all African member
    states, civic society and all stakeholders have a say in the final documents. Brexit
    must be taken as an opportunity for UK to lead in supporting Africa to meet SDGs
    and eradicate poverty.
  4. The need to treat Africa not as a homogenous continent but member states unequal among themselves, which requires infrastructural support to take advantage of trade agreements (MDC Business & Trade Envoy, recommendations, E. Pfebve)
  5. Investment & trade in services, technology and bilateral relations in mitigating
    against dangerous channel migration into Europe through addressing fundamental
    issues of peace, prosperity and governance.
    By Elliot Pfebve (Business & Trade, UK and EU Envoy)
    23 January 2020