Graced the stage at UK House @ SXSW London to speak to a boisterous crowd (my kind of people) about creativity, culture and commerce in the long-distance relationship that is the UK-Africa trading partnership.
London to Lagos
Panels ably fronted by Department for Business and Trade's Rupert Daniels (we had fun discussing his CV) and KTW London's Katy Wickremesinghe touched on sport, film, education, fashion and digital commerce with the likes of powerhouse designer Ozwald Boateng, Bridgerton's Martins Imhangbe, photographer and activist Misan Harriman and BBC Sport's Mimi Fawaz among others waxing lyrical on what can be done to strengthen trade relations from Cardiff to Cape Town.
Some insights
📽️ The UK government has listed the creative industries as one of eight "growth-driving" areas within its new industrial strategy - making it a priority sector for boosting economic growth and job creation.
💰 Total trade between UK & Africa was £22 billion in 2023, according to UK government data. South Africa remains the UK's largest trading partner on the continent.
⚽ Chelsea is unsurprisingly the most popular Premier League team in West Africa, according to data collated by the BBC - the Drogba effect.
Thanks to Jamila Saidi for her organisation of an event that brought together changemakers from the world of finance, the creative industries and beyond in the heart of the capital.
SXSW London - UK Government Africa trading partnership event
