Angola and Cameroon (Exports) (Hansard, 16 December 1982)

§ Mr. Skeet
asked the Minister for Trade what steps are taken to establish the creditworthiness of imports of British goods into the Cameroon Republic and the Republic of Angola for the purposes of Export Credits Guarantee Department cover; and how much of this work is carried out by embassy staff and how much by commercial credit agencies, respectively.

§ Mr. Peter Rees
In both countries the Export Credits Guarantee Department seeks information on the creditworthiness of importers from credit agencies and banks and in some cases, usually of particular urgency, through the British diplomatic posts in the territories. In the case of the Cameroon Republic about 190 inquiries a year are made, of which some 10 are deal with by the embassy in Yaounde or the consulate in Douala. In the Republic of Angola only about 20 inquiries a year are made, reflecting the more centralised nature of the Angolan economy. Of these, half are made to the Embassy in Luanda.

§ Mr. Skeet
asked the Minister for Trade (1) what are the reasons for delay in securing Export Credits Guarantee Department cover for British exports to the Cameroon Republic;
(2) what are the reasons for delays in securing Export Credits Guarantee Department cover for exports to the Republic of Angola.
188W

§ Mr. Peter Rees
Where such delay occurs it is usually due to the need for the Export Credits Guarantee Department to seek information from the overseas country, either because the buyer is unknown to the department or because existing information is not sufficiently up to date. The time taken to obtain such information varies but the response time for many inquiries in the Cameroon Republic is six weeks or more. A factor which sometimes contributes to delay is confusion over the buyer's correct name and/or address, particularly between buyers of similar names. Care by exporters in giving precise details in their initial applications to ECGD can help avoid this particular difficulty.
Similar factors apply in relation to cover for exports to the Republic of Angola, where, although inquiries are fewer, some can also take six weeks for reply.

§ Mr. Skeet
asked the Minister for Trade (1) what are the principal items of trade with the Republic of Angola and the volume and nature of trade between the United Kingdom and the Republic;
(2) what are the principal items of trade with the Cameroon Republic and the volume and value of trade between the United Kingdom and the Republic.

§ Mr. Peter Rees
The latest available information is as follows:

United Kingdom Trade with Angola and Cameroon Jan-Oct. 1982

(Value, £ million)

ANGOLA

Total imports cif 7.3

of which:

non-metallic mineral manufactures 3.4

petroleum and petroleum products 2.8

Total exports fob 18.0

of which:

specialised industrial machinery 6.8

road vehicles 2.1

general industrial machinery and equipment 1.9

metal manufactures 1.6

CAMEROON

Total imports cif 7.6

of which:

petroleum and petroleum products 4.0

cork and wood 1.5

coffee, tea, cocoa, spices 0.9

Total exports fob 17.5

of which:

beverages 3.6

chemical materials and products 1.2

general industrial machinery and equipment 1.2

specialised industrial machinery 1.1

Source:
United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics, Tables II and V.
Note:
Volume data are not available at this level of detail.

United Kingdom Trade with Angola and Cameroon Jan-Oct. 1982
	(Value, £ million)
ANGOLA
Total imports cif	7.3
of which:
non-metallic mineral manufactures	3.4
petroleum and petroleum products	2.8
Total exports fob	18.0
of which:
specialised industrial machinery	6.8
road vehicles	2.1
general industrial machinery and equipment	1.9
metal manufactures	1.6
CAMEROON
Total imports cif	7.6
of which:
petroleum and petroleum products	4.0
cork and wood	1.5
coffee, tea, cocoa, spices	0.9
Total exports fob	17.5
of which:
beverages	3.6
chemical materials and products	1.2
general industrial machinery and equipment	1.2
specialised industrial machinery	1.1