UK-Africa summit to bring deals worth billions of pounds: Britain

CAIRO – 20 January 2020: The three-day UK-Africa investment summit scheduled to kick-off on Monday will bring deals worth billions of British pounds, which help provide jobs and achieve growth across both UK and Africa, the British government wrote in its website.

On the sidelines of the summit, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, as well as a number of African leaders, the British government said.

Johnson, during the summit, will announce the UK’s step towards stopping supporting thermal coal mining or coal power plants, in a green crackdown.

“This announcement forms part of the UK’s wider commitment to use its expertise and experience to help Africa transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable, sustainable forms of clean energy,” the government said.

Britain has invited 21 African countries to attend the summit, the British Embassy in Cairo said, adding that Sisi, along with Johnson, will open the summit, as Egypt, the current chair of the African Union, would be a key participant.

“The Summit will create new lasting partnerships which will deliver more investment, jobs and growth,” the embassy wrote on its Facebook page.

“The Summit is about establishing long-term, meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships by forging strong connections between the UK and African nations - their young people, governments, institutions, businesses, scientists and entrepreneurs.”

Sisi arrived in the English capital city of London on late Sunday to participate in the summit. Sisi was received by some of the members of the Egyptian community in Britain, shortly after leaving the German capital of Berlin where he participated in a summit on troubled Libya.