- John Humphrey has been appointed as Her Majesty’s Trade
Commissioner (HMTC) to Africa
- With an economy worth $2.4trillion, Africa offers huge
potential for UK businesses across sectors including clean energy
and sustainable infrastructure
- Humphrey joins team of nine Trade Commissioners promoting
Global Britain across the world and encouraging UK trade and
investment
International Trade Secretary today (23 June 2022)
appointed John Humphrey as Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner
(HMTC) to Africa. The appointment comes as the Prime
Minister attends the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
(CHOGM) this week to further strengthen ties with Commonwealth
nations – 19 of which are in Africa.
HMTCs work closely with Ambassadors, High Commissioners and the
wider diplomatic network to promote UK trade and prosperity in
their region.
As the new Trade Commissioner for Africa, John will generate
business opportunities for the UK while contributing to the
growth of sustainable, resilient, and productive economies across
the African continent.
Prior to joining the Department for International Trade, John
held a variety of commercial, general management and executive
roles in the UK and overseas, most recently as Group Chief
Executive at Kent HoldCo Limited and as Chief Executive &
Accounting Officer of the UK Hydrographic Office (a Ministry of
Defence Trading Fund). He is also a Lay Trustee of the Royal
College of Speech and Language Therapy.
International Trade Secretary said:
I am delighted to announce the appointment of John Humphrey as
the new Trade Commissioner for Africa, joining our international
network of HMTCs across the globe.
John will be an asset to DIT in Africa; championing Global
Britain and helping UK businesses to succeed in new markets, from
Tunisia to Tanzania, Senegal to South Africa.
With a growing population and economy worth $2.4 trillion, a
thriving trade and investment relationship between the UK and
Africa presents huge opportunities across a variety of sectors
including tech, transport, clean energy, sustainable
infrastructure and Agri-Tech.
John Humphrey, HM Trade Commissioner for Africa,
said:
It is a great honour and hugely exciting to be appointed as Her
Majesty’s Trade Commissioner (HMTC) for Africa. Africa is a
diverse, vibrant, innovative and abundant continent that is home
to over 1.3 billion, mainly young, people and accounts for 20% of
the world’s land mass.
As someone who spent my most memorable childhood years in Africa,
I am thrilled to have the opportunity to continue the Department
for International Trade’s vital work enabling British businesses
and investors to discover this remarkable continent and to
generate long-term, mutually prosperous relationships.
