§ Mr. RosindellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to set up trading links that would benefit third world countries in Africa. [135507]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienAfrica faces many challenges. Nearly half of the 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa live on less than $1 dollar a day. The United Nations estimates that over 14 million people in the region will be dependent on food aid by March 2003.
Since September 2001 the UK government has committed over £80 million to humanitarian assistance and recovery programmes in Southern Africa. But aid also is not the answer.
We also provide assistance to British companies wishing to trade with Africa through services available from UK Trade and Investment and our network of posts in the region. We also support events in Africa designed to enable UK companies to assess the prospects for trade and investment in African countries.
This is why we are working hard, with our EU colleagues, to deliver a development round in line with the promises made at Doha. All countries will benefit, but the poorest stand to gain the most.