Alastair Long
Biography
Alastair Long took up his appointment as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMT) for Africa in August 2026.
He previously served as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain from August 2023, and as the deputy and then acting Trade Commissioner for Africa between 2019 and 2022.
Alastair Long joined the Foreign Office in 2002. His previous postings in the Middle East and North Africa include:
- Riyadh, as Deputy Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Director Trade and Investment for Saudi Arabia from 2018 to 2019
- Dubai, as the Regional Director for Trade for the Middle East, Pakistan and Afghanistan and Deputy Consul General from 2016 to 2018
- Muscat, as Deputy Ambassador and HM Consul General from 2013 to 2015
Alastair was educated at Cambridge University (Clare College) and the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
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HM Trade Commissioner for Africa
The HM Trade Commissioner for Africa works closely with the wider diplomatic network and other colleagues to coordinate the UK government effort to promote UK trade and investment across the African continent.
The Trade Commissioner has full responsibility for all Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) work in Africa including:
- growing the overall bilateral trade and investment relationship between the UK and Africa
- improving market access for British companies, including small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs)
- developing finance and trade policy
Previous roles in government
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British Ambassador to Bahrain
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Deputy Head of Mission to Oman