Guidance

Start investing in African businesses

Find out about investment opportunities and support from the UK government. Learn how to manage risk, invest ethically, and access guidance on African countries.

• From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Department for Business and Trade
• Published: 18 November 2022
• Last updated: 29 April 2024 — See all updates

Research your market

Learn about the investment markets in Africa, which sectors are best for investment and stay up to date with travel advice. Find out more:

• research export opportunities and prepare your business for new markets from the GREAT website

• trade and investment factsheets between the UK and partner countries

• the UK’s development finance institution British International Investment’s strategic approach to growth sectors

• UK-Africa trade agreements including with trading blocs

• foreign travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office for countries and territories

Get help from the UK government

If you are a UK business interested in investing in Africa, you can contact DIT.Africa@fcdo.gov.uk for advice on:

• how to make useful business connections in your chosen market
• how to start investing

You can also get advice if:

• you are already investing in Africa and would like to expand
• you need help fixing problems you are having with investing in Africa

Find networking and investment opportunities

Discover opportunities available to UK investors in African countries:

• learn about green sector priorities and get country profiles from UK-Africa green trade and investment opportunities

• apply to be considered a qualified investor in projects sourced through Cala Capital

• search a list of trade missions related to ‘Africa’ (you will need to register for each event you are interested in)

• read the Partnership for Investment and Growth in Africa (PIGA) investment opportunity study (PDF, 1.66 MB) for Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique and Zambia

• invest in international aid and development projects with Lendahand

• read guidance on aid funded business for UK companies on winning business from international aid and development projects

• learn how Manufacturing Africa provides opportunities to invest in the manufacturing sector in Africa

• read about how Energise Africa gives you the chance to make ethical investments that fight climate change

• apply to become a P4G partnership for green impact investment projects by submitting a concept note

Learn the risks of investing abroad

Learn the risks of doing business abroad, including trade barriers and how to avoid them:

• overseas business risk guidance, with country-specific information on political, economic and security risks when trading abroad

• find trade barriers: search by sector or country

• read guidance on tax on foreign income, including from foreign investment

• learn how to set up a business abroad

• read guidance on how to find customers, navigate new routes to market and win bids to grow your business as you prepare to sell into a new country

• find new customers around the world (you need to register for a great.gov.uk account to access this)

Find out more: Growth Gateway: supporting two-way trade and investment between the UK and Africa.

Published 18 November 2022
Last updated 29 April 2024 + show all updates

1. 29 April 2024

   Guidance reviewed and updated.

2. 18 November 2022

   First published.