Past Event – African Business Forum 2024

BCA Chair, Keith Stokes-Smith, was one of a number of speakers at the annual African Business Forum event held at BCU on 23 May 2024.

Lord Oats, Member of the House of Lords and Co-Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Africa, South Africa and Zimbabwe was the keynote speaker. He was shortly after followed by Keith who re-iterated the importance of trade with Africa albeit noting that the BCA had a particular focus on trade with the 19 Commonwealth nations within Africa.

Keith recognised that Africa’s diaspora here in Birmingham and across the West Midlands can play an important role in facilitating trade and investment. The West Midlands share of UK trade with Africa was quite dismal and suggested how this might be improved.

Tackling barriers to trade must be a priority. Since the start of 2020, the UK government had resolved around 500 barriers blocking British business from exporting abroad. Fostering international trade required collaboration, transparency and a commitment to sustainable development.

He confirmed that the BCA ‘were on the same page’ when it came to working together having endeavoured to do so since its inception in 2013. Trade was important as it fuelled economic growth, created employment opportunities and jobs and raised living standards.

See : https://african-chamber.com/f/afbc-africa-business-forum-2024—birmingham-speakers-and-agenda