Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy David Heath CBE MP visits Angola
David Heath CBE MP visit to demonstrate UK’s support for economic diversification in Angola.
The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Angola and Nigeria David Heath MP visits Angola next week to show how the UK’s continual support for economic diversification in Angola. This is the third such visit in nine months to Angola by David Heath and demonstrates the growth in trade between the two countries.
David Heath CBE MP said: I’m delighted to be coming to Angola again, for the third time in nine months. It shows how important to the UK are our relations with this country, enshrined in the High Level Prosperity Partnership. The HLPP was launched in 2013, and goes from strength to strength.
Twelve years after achieving peace, Angola’s extraordinary growth rates have been the envy of the region and the world. Yet recent macroeconomic challenges have increased its need to diversify its economy. The UK is superbly equipped to offer help in that task; be it in the agriculture sector; in energy beyond oil; in extractives; or in education. During my visit I’ll be talking to senior Angolans to explore how we can make a reality of this enormous potential, and take our levels of commercial and engagement still further. Our exports to Angola grew by 36% last year; and Angolan companies are increasingly present in the UK. But there is much more we can all still do.
I’m particularly looking forward to seeing more of this beautiful country. I’ll see at first hand agriculture projects in the province of Malange run by ADRA (Action for the Rural Development of Angola) and by GESTERRA. Agriculture is an area close to my heart. I represent an agricultural constituency in the UK, and strongly believe both Countries have a lot to gain from working together in this sector.
As part of the three-day visit to Luanda, David Heath plans to meet with various Ministers including the Minister of Geology and Mines, Minister of Energy and Water and the Minister of Industry as well as representatives from the National Institute of Cereals and Commission of Milan EXPO 2015 to discuss ways the United Kingdom can support investment opportunities for British companies in these sectors and reaffirm the UK’s commitment to responsible investment.
In a political career spanning nearly 20 years, David Heath is a member of Parliament for Somerton and Frome and was appointed as Deputy Leader of the House of Commons from 2010-2012 and fomer Minister of State for Agriculture and Food between 2012-2013. In early 2014 David Heath was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Trade envoy to Angola and Nigeria. David Heath will also meet with members of Luanda’s British business community, and key representatives from the Angolan Banking sector.
HE John Dennis, British Ambassador to Angola, said: We are privileged to once again welcome Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Angola. His visit signifies the importance we place in our relations with Angola as part of the High level Prosperity Partnership. He was able to travel to more rural parts of the country to see for himself the agricultural opportunities that exist in the country as well as meeting a wide range of senior ministers, British and Angolan businesses that will help us boost trade ties, and uncover opportunities for investment in the future.