Minister emphasizes the importance of UK working with Africa to grow economies, boost food security

On a two-day visit to Senegal starting today (Tuesday 24 January), the UK Minister for Development and Africa will stress the importance of the UK working with African countries to grow economies and boost food security.

Arriving in Dakar, Andrew Mitchell will appreciate the important relationship between the UK and Senegal, a country with enormous economic potential.

He will meet key figures in the Senegalese government during his visit, including the current Chair of the African Union and President of Senegal, Macky Sall. He will also set out the UK’s vision of a strong partnership between the UK and Senegal that delivers mutual prosperity and security, and tackles global issues such as health and climate change. He will sign the first ever Memorandum of Understanding between the UK and Senegal, symbolizing our growing partnership.

Mr Mitchell will see firsthand the impact of British investment in Senegal, including UK-funded projects supporting women and girls, and helping build Senegal’s vaccine production facilities to deal with the next pandemic.

Representing the UK at the Dakar 2 Feed Africa Summit, an African-led initiative, the minister will hear African leaders talk about the causes of rising food insecurity and how to accelerate agricultural transformation with the aim of maximizing the UK’s impact Will listen to his vision. Eliminating food shortages across the continent. The UK is working with regional organizations such as AGRA, the Regional Economic Communities and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to help strengthen food trade in Africa.

Africa Minister Andrew Mitchell said:

Many Brits know Senegal for its world-class football team. They may not know that our partnership with Senegal benefits both our peoples, provides economic growth and addresses common security and health threats. We look forward to deepening this partnership in the long run.

As a major supporter of the African Development Bank, I am delighted to participate in Dakar 2: Feed Africa Summit on an issue that needs all of us to work together.

With Russia’s war in Ukraine escalating regional conflict in Africa and the already dire effects of climate change on food security, I want to hear and understand directly from Macky Sall and other African leaders about the issues facing the continent I want to see how the UK can further support the challenges we face together as African countries.”

Senegal is a key stable and democratic country in the region, growing in importance and influence, and the UK looks forward to forging a closer partnership and greater trade and investment links over the long term.

Economic growth is key to tackling challenges such as food insecurity and climate change and on his visit Mr Mitchell will explore opportunities to expand UK investment in the country to make a real and lasting positive impact. The 2020 UK-Africa Investment Summit announced 27 deals from across Africa worth more than £6.5 billion. It also announced investment decisions worth £9 billion.

During his visit, he will see the impact of such investments to date, including a $1.7 billion partnership between British International Investments and DP World on a new container port in Ndayane, Senegal’s largest onshore investment. The port will enable the creation of more than 20,000 new jobs and help remove barriers to greater economic growth.

He will see the British Council’s landmark English Connects program and visit the Women’s Integrated Sexual Health Program (WISH) clinic, where our delivery partner Mary Stopes International is increasing access to voluntary family planning, reaching those who need it most Is.

Andrew Michel will also visit the Institut Pasteur de Dakar and learn about their plans to develop vaccines for Covid and other deadly diseases.