British businesses secure £330 million of African infrastructure contracts

British businesses are set to secure more than £330 million of export contracts to help deliver nine major infrastructure projects across Guinea and Benin.

The contracts will see UK companies supplying goods and services for projects spanning education, clean water, electricity transmission and government infrastructure, supporting jobs and growth at home while delivering vital infrastructure overseas.

The deals are being supported by £1.1 billion in financing and guarantees from UK Export Finance (UKEF), the government’s export credit agency.

They are being announced as the fifth UK-West and Central Francophone Africa Trade and Investment Forum (WCAF) opens today in Conakry, Guinea, bringing together British businesses and potential partners from across the region.

UKEF is also increasing its exposure capacity across the region by £1.7 billion, giving it greater capacity to support future projects involving British exporters.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

These deals are a major win for UK businesses, helping them secure new contracts in fast-growing markets and driving jobs and growth across the United Kingdom.

By backing projects like these, UK Export Finance is helping British firms win work overseas, creating opportunities for communities here at home while strengthening our trade partnerships across West and Central Africa.

Tim Reid, CEO of UK Export Finance, said:

British businesses have won a huge number of contracts to support key infrastructure projects across the region in recent years, driving job creation in the UK while helping our partners in francophone Africa build the infrastructure they need.