ESWATINI TO BENEFIT FROM UK PROGRAMME
MBABANE – The country is set to benefit from a United Kingdom programme that will enhance trade through networking as well as private and public partnerships.
The Ezulwini-based British High Commission, in a correspondence shared to this publication, confirmed the launch of UK ‘tech for growth’ programme to increase access to financial services in Africa. It was launched by the UK Department for International Trade (DIT) on Monday. It will enhance the role technology can play in expanding access to financial services in emerging markets, starting with Africa.
“The programme will enhance trade between the UK and Africa through networking, private and public partnerships, and in-country capacity building. An ongoing research programme will address market access barriers currently limiting the role of technology in delivering trade alongside sustainable development goals,” reads the correspondence in part.
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The first year of the programme will be piloted across Africa, where access to financial services remains low. There are further plans for the programme to expand globally across South East Asia and Latin America. In its first year, ‘Tech for Growth’ will deliver three pillars of activity. They include establishing a UK-Africa ‘Tech for Growth’ community designed to expand access to financial services for underserved communities.
It will include events across the UK and Africa to promote partnerships between British and African technology and financial services companies. The other pillar speaks to empowering UK-Africa FinTech trade by highlighting commercial opportunities, leverage research, and addressing barriers that currently inhibit successful scaling of the FinTech sector.
Also on the agenda is supporting the growth of future tech markets by collaborating with African governments and regulators to grow their tech sector, and develop future trading partnerships with the UK.
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