Scotland London Africa Week 2025 concluded after a series of high-level briefings, sector-specific discussions and diplomatic engagements focused on strengthening trade, investment and economic cooperation between the United Kingdom and African markets.
Delegations from Scotland, London and across Africa participated in meetings with government departments, embassies, business groups and financial institutions as part of the weeklong programme.
According to a press release by APO, the event opened at Old Admiralty House with a strategic session led by the Department for Business and Trade’s Africa team. Delegates received updates on the UK Government’s 10-year industrial strategy and its eight designated growth sectors. Officials outlined the UK’s approach to modern trade agreements, including elements linked to skills development and planning reform, and highlighted collaboration mechanisms with international partners. Updates were also provided on the Ricardo Fund’s 130 completed projects, the UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy, Nigeria’s Energy Transition and Investment Plan (ETIP) and the SACUM tariff review.
Ben Ainsley delivered a regional briefing covering major African markets including Egypt, South Africa, Uganda, Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria. He noted Africa’s demographic trajectory and increasing influence in global economic trends. The session transitioned into an interactive roundtable where delegates raised issues related to financing, clean energy, supply-chain requirements and food security.
Engagements continued at Marlborough House during a meeting with the South African Chamber of Commerce UK, hosted by the Commonwealth Secretariat. Discussions centred on the depth of UK–South Africa trade relations, with emphasis on sectors that align with Scotland’s areas of global expertise. The first day concluded with an informal networking dinner attended by delegates and business representatives.
The second day began at the Egyptian Bureau for Cultural & Educational Affairs, where Minister Plenipotentiary Wael Abdelraheem and the Egyptian British Chamber of Commerce provided an overview of Egypt’s trade and investment climate. Delegates also received guidance on international trade procedures and visa requirements before attending a networking session hosted by the National Bank of Egypt UK.
Later, the Embassy of Ethiopia hosted the delegation for a traditional coffee ceremony followed by a detailed economic briefing. Officials outlined investment openings across Ethiopia’s expanding sectors, particularly agribusiness, agro-processing, large-scale crop production, dairy, meat, cereals, packaging, machinery, cold-chain systems and industrial parks.
A major event highlight took place at Dover House, where delegates and more than 60 invited guests attended a reception hosted with permission of the Secretary of State for Scotland, The Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP. The gathering brought together government officials, business leaders and industry representatives from Scotland, London and Africa.
The final programme day centred on the Scotland-Africa Women in Business event at Scotland House. Speakers from multiple countries, alongside the Women in Trade Hub, discussed efforts to address the Scottish Government’s Gender Export Gap and explored approaches to expand women’s participation in international trade.
Frazer Lang, CEO of the Scottish Africa Business Association (SABA), said the week provided “meaningful engagement and constructive interactions across government and industry.” SABA COO Seona Shand noted that the discussions reflected strong alignment between Scotland’s areas of expertise and priority sectors in several African markets.
Scotland London Africa Week 2025 underscored the importance of sustained engagement, market intelligence and cross-border collaboration in deepening economic ties between Scotland and African countries.
