International Trade Minister, Conor Burns, will meet with Ministers in Rabat, Morocco to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to investing in Africa’s future through trade.
While there, Minister Burns will be the first UK Minister to visit the Noor Solar Plant, the world’s largest solar plant of its kind, as Morocco pursues its ambition to source more than half of its energy from renewable sources by 2030.
The UK has widely recognised and respected expertise in renewable energy, and its experienced solar industry has great potential for collaboration with Morocco in this crucial sector.
The visit comes ahead of the world’s first UK-Africa Investment Summit, to be held in London later this month, which will seek to create lasting partnerships to deliver more investment, jobs and growth in the UK and Africa.
Africa is expected to be home to 8 of the 15 fastest growing economies in the world this year. By 2050, more than 2 billion people will live in Africa and 1 in 4 global consumers will be African. A closer trade and investment partnership between the UK and Africa will benefit people and businesses both in Africa and the UK.
Meeting with senior government officials including Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Nasser Bourita and Finance Minister Mr. Mohamed Benchaaboun, Minister Burns will discuss mutual ambition to broaden trade with Morocco post-Brexit, particularly in burgeoning Moroccan industries such as green energy, finance, agriculture and manufacturing. The latest figures show the UK’s trade with Morocco is worth £2.4bn annually.
Original source: DFID
Published on 10 January 2019
