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[Sir Tigger KC]

The Maybot is in Africa which has huge potential for economic growth. 

Yet I find it incredible that this is the first time that a British PM has visited sub Saharan Africa since David Cameron went to Nelson Mandela's memorial service in 2013 and the first time a British PM has visited Kenya (Africa's 3rd biggest economy and the power house of East Africa) since Margaret Thatcher in 1988! 

There have been plenty of trade missions to the Middle and Far East yet it seems our masters have neglected Africa.  A continent full of natural resources, agricultural potential, and inventive people with a variety of rich and vibrant cultures.    France's Macron has visited twice in the short time he has been President and the Chinese have been investing heavily across the continent for 15 years or so. 

So why is this? 

Is it some sort of post colonial guilt syndrome that infests the Civil Service?    or have we just been gazing at our EU naval? 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Africa.....a continent devoid of political corruption.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Theresa will need to 'grease the palms' of any number of overweight dictators if she wants a good trade deal.

[STEMO]

Just watched her 'dancing' in front of a group of children. I think I actually went pink. 

[Doctor Gollum]

France is still very much a colonial power with much influence in the francophile world so I would have been surprised if Macon didn't go once a year

As for the Chinese, they are so desperate for materials that they will rebuild the entire globe just to gain access to the ground. Regardless of cost, fiscal or physical...

[dave the builder]

Africa.....a continent devoid of political corruption.

hope she has plenty of pocket change to bribe her way through all the road blocks every few miles 

[Lizzie Zoom]

Africa.....a continent devoid of political corruption.

hope she has plenty of pocket change to bribe her way through all the road blocks every few miles 

....and I think that sums up nicely the problem with Africa, along with generally high crime rates   

[Varche]

Is it some sort of post colonial guilt syndrome that infests the Civil Service?    or have we just been gazing at our EU naval?


gazing at our EU naval methinks.


So much we could have been doing in Africa. I was very surprised the other day to find the Italians sell tinned tomatoes to some African countries!

[dave the builder]

So much we could have been doing in Africa. I was very surprised the other day to find the Italians sell tinned tomatoes to some African countries!

you can buy fray bentos tinned pies and cadbury fingers at the petrol station at the traffic lights in  gambia 

[Sir Tigger KC]

So judging by the above comments people see Africa as a cesspit of poverty, crime and corruption. 

These attitudes probably exist in the corridors of Whitehall and across the boardrooms of the UK (especially from those who have never visited), which probably answers my question. 

Poverty, crime and corruption exist across the continent of course, but the potential is enormous and we should have been tapping into that potential long before now!     

[Varche]

So much we could have been doing in Africa. I was very surprised the other day to find the Italians sell tinned tomatoes to some African countries!

you can buy fray bentos tinned pies and cadbury fingers at the petrol station at the traffic lights in  gambia 

But the point is stuff from Africa is generally expected to be cheaper. All you need to grow tomatoes is sun(warmth) and water. How can the Italians with higher labour costs sell cheaper in Africa after having transported too. Dumping springs to mind. Fray Bentos tinned pies and Cadbury fingers are niche products. ( if you look hard enough you can even buy them in Spain at a price) 

[aaronjb]

Poverty, crime and corruption exist across the continent of course, but the potential is enormous and we should have been tapping into that potential long before now!     

We could have started by tapping one into Mugabe's dome, a long time ago.

[dave the builder]

But in the uk, the only time i had to bribe my way past a roadblock was the M6 toll and some bridge in south wales
all the other roads i've drove on ,i paid the bribe in advance (road tax) 
 I was talking about actual road blocks in africa
not political ones 
but,with enough "pocket change" i'm sure even political roadblocks could be passed   

[aaronjb]

I was talking about actual road blocks in africa

I have (white, Zim) friends who talk about those kinds of road blocks. Manned by the military. The kind they wouldn't let their daughters try to pass through without (armed) male family escort.

[dave the builder]

So much we could have been doing in Africa. I was very surprised the other day to find the Italians sell tinned tomatoes to some African countries!

you can buy fray bentos tinned pies and cadbury fingers at the petrol station at the traffic lights in  gambia 

But the point is stuff from Africa is generally expected to be cheaper. All you need to grow tomatoes is sun(warmth) and water. How can the Italians with higher labour costs sell cheaper in Africa after having transported too. Dumping springs to mind. Fray Bentos tinned pies and Cadbury fingers are niche products. ( if you look hard enough you can even buy them in Spain at a price)

I was just being a facetious pr**k 
if the Italian's have too many tomatoes ,why not sell them to africa
if there is a market and Africa is not geared up to grow tomatoes .
large areas of land and sun a plenty would be good for bio diesel production or solar farms
i'm more shocked that we buy potatoes from Egypt 
even I can grow spuds in Derbyshire