Meet the Ambassadors - North Africa

With a desire to shift away from the heavy reliance on oil and gas, what are the areas of opportunities for UK plc in North Africa?  Join us as we hear from British Ambassadors from Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Mali as they share their insights on the opportunities the region has to offer, present the general political and economic updates and also the region’s response to the crisis.  

As the region works its way out of the pandemic what are the key areas of opportunities for UK businesses going forward? With their heavy reliance on services and oil, diversification has to be the answer. As Africa’s second fastest growing region in 2019 North Africa is now set for recession as it struggles with the highest coronavirus case load on the continent.  

Politically, the picture remains complex. Ten years on from the Arab Spring, only Tunisia has successfully maintained democratic elections. Notable industries with opportunities for UK businesses include energy, infrastructure, mining and agriculture - though there are short term challenges, including political and security uncertainties.

Egypt's economic growth has been strong and resilient since the economic reforms initiated in 2016. It is one of the few African countries expected to record positive growth in 2020, at 3.6%, despite the adverse impact of the COVID–19 pandemic. Algeria was ranked as the third most important economy in the MENA region by the World Bank and a leader in the Maghreb. It is one of a handful of countries that have achieved 20% poverty reduction in the past two decades. In Tunisia production fell in all sectors except agriculture and fishing. However, this is forecast to rebound and the UK is in a primary place to trade as threats of a major third wave subside. Currently Tunisia is very dependent on Europe, but with the UK able to create trade deals of its own, Tunisia may be a place that UK PLC’s can establish themselves and create a base for the region.

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