British exporters are set to benefit from more than £330 million in contracts for schools, water, electricity and government infrastructure projects in Guinea and Benin…reports Africa Daily News Desk
British businesses are set to secure more than £330 million in export contracts to support nine major infrastructure projects in Guinea and Benin, covering schools, clean water, electricity networks and government facilities.
The deals are backed by £1.1 billion in financing and guarantees from UK Export Finance (UKEF), the government’s export credit agency, which is also increasing its exposure capacity across West and Central Francophone Africa by £1.7 billion to support future projects.
The announcements coincide with the opening of the fifth UK-West and Central Francophone Africa Trade and Investment Forum (WCAF V) in Conakry, Guinea. The event brings together British businesses, governments and potential partners from across the region to develop trade and investment opportunities.
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the contracts would help UK companies expand in growing international markets while supporting employment and economic activity at home.
“These deals are a major win for UK businesses, helping them secure new contracts in fast-growing markets and driving jobs and growth across the United Kingdom,” he said.
He added that UKEF-backed projects were creating opportunities for British firms while strengthening trade partnerships across West and Central Africa.
UKEF is providing £75 million in financing for a large-scale education infrastructure programme in Guinea, which will deliver new primary and secondary schools across four regions.
The programme aims to improve access to education for thousands of children through modern classrooms, sanitation facilities and associated infrastructure. UK company Planet One has secured the contract.
A further £91 million is being provided for the Guinea Regional Water Project, which will expand access to clean drinking water through new treatment and distribution infrastructure across multiple regions.
The project will be delivered by UK-headquartered Aqua Africa, which has previously secured UKEF-backed financing for water infrastructure in the region.
Electricity infrastructure is another focus of the agreements. UKEF is providing £129 million towards the La Cotiere Conakry Transmission project, part of a wider programme to improve electricity distribution along Guinea’s coastal region.
The contract has been secured by Elecnor, with opportunities for British suppliers in transmission equipment, grid technology and engineering services.
In neighbouring Benin, UKEF is providing £82 million in financing to help fund a new government administrative complex designed to consolidate public services within a modern urban development.
The contract has been awarded to ACC UK Group Ltd. British companies could contribute design, engineering, security systems and specialist building services to the project.
Together, the initiatives span education, water, power and public administration, creating opportunities for UK exporters to supply goods and expertise to infrastructure programmes across the two countries.
The government said the contracts would support jobs and growth in Britain while helping partner countries develop essential infrastructure.
UKEF expands support for regional trade
Tim Reid, chief executive of UK Export Finance, said British businesses had secured numerous contracts for infrastructure projects across the region in recent years, supporting UK employment while helping countries in Francophone Africa meet their development needs.
He said the trade forum had helped bring about agreements over successive editions and demonstrated how export finance could support international projects while contributing to economic activity across the UK.
The additional £1.7 billion in UKEF exposure capacity is intended to provide greater scope for supporting future projects involving British exporters in the region.
WCAF V is hosted by UKEF in partnership with DMA Invest and the Guinean government. The forum runs in Conakry until 21 October 2026.
Atam Sandhu, chief executive of DMA Invest, said the forum aimed to turn business and government relationships into practical projects by bringing together public authorities, companies and financiers.
He thanked the Guinean government and people for hosting the fifth edition, adding that the initiative sought to move priority projects from discussion towards delivery.
