Theresa May has announced plans to boost Britain’s investment in Africa after Brexit, during her first trip to the continent as prime minister.
In a speech in Cape Town, she pledged 4 billion Pounds in support for African economies, to create jobs for young people.
She also pledged a “fundamental shift” in aid spending to focus on long-term economic and security challenges rather than short-term poverty reduction.
The BBC reports that she will also visit Nigeria and Kenya during the three-day trade mission.
On her way to South Africa, the prime minister played down warnings from the chancellor about the economic damage a no-deal Brexit could cause.
Talking to journalists on board RAF Voyager on Tuesday morning, Mrs May reiterated that she believed a no-deal Brexit was still better than a bad deal – adding no-deal “wouldn’t be the end of the world”.
Last week Chancellor Philip Hammond warned in a letter that a no-deal Brexit could damage the economy.
Mrs May’s trip – which will see her meet the presidents of all three countries – aims to deepen economic and trade ties with growing African economies ahead of Britain leaving the EU in 2019.
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