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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Economy & Trade

UK appoints Alastair Long as trade commissioner for Africa

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • The UK appointed Alastair Long as its trade commissioner for Africa, succeeding John Humphrey.
  • Long will work with African governments, businesses and institutions to expand trade, investment and commercial partnerships.
  • He previously served as the UK’s trade commissioner for Africa from 2019 to 2022 and most recently was ambassador to Bahrain.

The UK has returned Alastair Long to a role he knows well, appointing him as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Africa with a mandate to deepen economic ties across the continent.

I am thrilled to resume my work in Africa.

· Alastair LongLong welcomed his return to the trade commissioner role.

Long previously served as deputy trade commissioner and then trade commissioner for Africa between 2019 and 2022. Before taking up the new post, he served as His Majesty’s Ambassador to Bahrain from August 2023.

The British Deputy High Commission said Long would work with African governments, investors, businesses and institutions. His responsibilities include expanding commercial partnerships, supporting UK and African companies, attracting investment, and helping build sustainable, resilient and productive economies.

boundless energy and ambition

· Alastair LongLong described what he had witnessed during previous assignments in Africa.

“I am thrilled to resume my work in Africa,” Long said, describing the continent as the future and recalling its “boundless energy and ambition.” He said the UK would support African and British growth by listening to African priorities and offering its expertise.

The UK is committed to being a partner that supports African and British growth by listening to African priorities and bringing the very best the UK has to offer.

· Alastair LongLong outlined the UK’s approach to economic cooperation with Africa.

Long succeeds John Humphrey, who held the position from June 2022. Humphrey said it had been a privilege to strengthen UK-Africa relations, which he described as grounded in “delivery, trust and shared economic ambition.” The commissioner leads Britain’s overseas efforts to promote trade, investment, export opportunities and trade policy objectives in Africa.

delivery, trust and shared economic ambition

· John HumphreyHumphrey described the foundations of UK-Africa relations during his tenure.
About this summary

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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