The United Kingdom has appointed Alastair Long as His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Africa, with a mandate to deepen trade and investment relations between the UK and the continent.
The UK Department for Business and Trade welcomed Long to Africa as he formally assumed responsibility for leading the country’s trade and investment engagement across the region.
The UK Government said stronger trade and investment ties with Africa would continue to create jobs, expand business opportunities, promote innovation, strengthen industries and support sustainable economic growth.
In his new role, Long will engage with African governments, investors, businesses and institutions to expand commercial partnerships and attract investment while supporting the development of sustainable, resilient and productive economies.
He will also focus on supporting British and African businesses, improving market access for UK companies and advancing trade policy objectives across the continent.
Long is returning to a region with which he has considerable experience, having previously served as Deputy Trade Commissioner and later His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Africa between 2019 and 2022.
Before taking up his current position, he served as His Majesty’s Ambassador to Bahrain from August 2023.
Long joined the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in 2002 and has held several diplomatic and trade-related positions across the Middle East and North Africa.
His previous postings include Deputy Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Director of Trade and Investment for Saudi Arabia in Riyadh between 2018 and 2019; Regional Director for Trade for the Middle East, Pakistan and Afghanistan and Deputy Consul General in Dubai between 2016 and 2018; and Deputy Ambassador and HM Consul General in Muscat between 2013 and 2015.
Speaking on his appointment, Long said he was delighted to return to Africa and take up the position.
“I am thrilled to be taking up the position of His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Africa and returning to the continent. Africa is the future and I saw, when deputy and then acting Trade Commissioner, what boundless energy and ambition the continent possesses,” he said.
He said the UK was committed to supporting both African and British businesses by listening to African priorities and bringing the country’s expertise and capabilities to the continent.
“The UK is committed to being a partner that supports African and British growth by listening to African priorities and bringing the very best the UK has to offer,” Long said.
“I look forward to engaging across the continent, with the UK business community, and with the UK Government team, to realise as many mutual opportunities as possible.”
Long succeeds John Humphrey, who served as UK Trade Commissioner for Africa from June 2022.
Reflecting on his tenure, Humphrey described his time in the role as a privilege and said he had worked with partners across Africa to strengthen relationships based on delivery, trust and shared economic ambition.
“Africa is central to the UK’s global outlook, with significant opportunities for commercially grounded collaboration and sustainable growth,” Humphrey said.
He expressed confidence that Long’s experience and expertise would help strengthen the UK’s partnerships across Africa.
“Alastair Long inherits strong UK momentum in Africa, and will bring real depth of trade expertise and the focus and energy needed to deepen partnerships and unlock further opportunities for mutual benefit,” he said.
As HMTC for Africa, Long will oversee the UK Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade’s activities across the continent, including efforts to grow the overall trade and investment relationship, improve market access for British companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, and develop trade policy.
He will work closely with UK-based government officials, British ambassadors and the wider diplomatic network across Africa to coordinate efforts aimed at promoting UK trade, investment and economic prosperity.
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