Theresa May: The African Queen

Maurizio Bragagni
Sep 6, 2018 · 2 min read

I found Mrs May’s recent visit to Africa very interesting on a number of levels.

It was the first such by a serving British PM for three decades, and she took with her a raft of pledges of assistance and hopes for a cordial and mutually beneficial relationship moving forward.

She was criticised for the extent of the promises of assistance, and for the ‘strings’ said to be attached to the offer.

Surely this is a Government securing supplies of raw materials and, in so doing, making sure it ‘gives back’?

The PM promised:

  • Increased military support to Nigeria to protect its citizens and British workers from terror attacks
  • A £10.5m package to help victims of modern slavery
  • A joint initiative with France which would work to prevent trafficking of migrants.
  • She had already announced £4bn of extra British support for African economies.

Nigeria is Britain’s second largest trading partner in Africa and its biggest export to the UK is crude oil. Its largest import is refined oil. There you have it.

Yes there is a strong commercial imperative here. But isn’t what the government is doing the same as what any corporate entity would do?

Big companies have to go beyond day to day business to sustain the communities they trade with.

They have a duty to shareholders seek to secure the deal they want and a duty as a corporate citizen to see what else they can do.

Britain has a relationship with Africa — it is a long-standing one and it’s complicated.

Theresa May’s time in number 10 has been defined by questions around trade and what the markets will look like as we move forward.

As well as the imperative to give back, companies have balance sheets to nurture. It will be even more interesting to see how the dynamics develop.

Father of four. CEO of @Tratosgroup & @eShareLife Chairman. @CassBusiness MBA.

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