The Department for International Development (DfID) is planning to set up an online service to promote business between the UK and African countries.
Named the Growth Gateway, it was announced at the recent UK-Africa Investment Summit, following which the department has published a procurement notice for support in the alpha and beta development of the platform.
This comes along with a plan to set up a UK based team of trade and investment professionals to promote support companies wishing to build business in Africa and vice versa.
The website initiative will bring together relevant UK Government services and information sources.
A discovery project run by Deloitte Digital has found that, although the Government offers a variety of trade, investment and financial services to support developing markets, it is often complex for business users and that they would welcome a more streamlined and better tailored service.
DfID expects companies in the UK and Africa to make use of the website. It will comprise up-to-date information on trade, investment and finance, African market guides, UK sector guides and a tool to help businesses understand what support they may need. The content will be available in English, French and Portuguese.
Image from CIA World Fact Book, public domain
