Trade
UK Steps Up Export Deals to French-Speaking Africa
- UK Export Finance has increased its exposure to the region
- China remains a dominant lender for infrastructure projects
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The UK has stepped up business in French-speaking West and Central Africa as it seeks new frontiers for its exports.
UK Export Finance, a state body that helps fund suppliers and foreign buyers of British goods and services, was backing transactions in francophone Africa worth a cumulative £1 billion ($1.3 billion) at the end of the 2023-4 financial year, up from just £3 million in 2017-8, according to Steven Gray, its West African regional lead.