Speech by British High Commissioner Bob Dewar on the occasion of Launch of AfricapracticeR&B
Date: 17/03/2009
A very warm welcome to all dignitaries and guests here tonight to celebrate the merger between AFricapractice and Richardson and Briggs to create AfricapracticeR&B. This exciting launch is symbolic of partnership between Nigeria and Africa and the UK.
There is an African saying ‘show me your friend and I will show you your character’.
My emphasis this evening is on opportunity- despite the global downturn- and on professional quality and standards.
This merger is important because of the need for professionally structured companies who can communicate well the problems and opportunities in the private and public sectors.
It really is important for companies to communicate correctly and likewise for Governments of course. Failure to do so can have adverse implications, success in communication can make all the difference when it comes to trust and confidence.
So I exhort the new company to be responsible in the best sense of corporate responsibility and in the best interests of Nigeria, Africa and the UK.
In this I would encourage substance more than form, however important the words.
That’s needed now more than ever in this global crisis, which is being felt like a wind through the world including Africa. It is a common challenge. If we needed reminding, it shows so clearly that we are interconnected and must face the challenges together.
The UK believes the right approach is to be open, looking outward for shared global solutions and a coordinated international response, as Gordon Brown has advocated. We must not revert to protectionism. We are working hard to find the best way forward together, as we prepare for the G20 Summit in a few weeks time.
And there are principles, the same principles, that make for confidence, for the right approach. Strengthening of regulation of the banking system. Strengthening of transparency. Reforming international financial institutions. Re-committing to international trade negotiations that have Africa’s interests in mind. Recommitting to carry out our promises on overseas development flows for Africa. Making sure the crisis does not undermine our joint efforts to roll back climate change.
There’s the opportunity, even more need for proper communication. Because real responsibility and good public relations needs to be ever more focused on these same values and principles. Transparent processes. Integrity. The reality, not distorted in one direction or another.
Nigeria and Africa need the real private sector to create jobs. They need to be connected to UK companies and products and services and investors who have international standards, who have quality.
The UK is Nigeria's leading foreign investor. This merger adds to the portfolio of quality that the UK has; this includes:-
• Guinness
• PZ
• Standard Chartered Bank
• British Airways/Virgin Atlantic
• GSK
• Unilever
• John Holt and many others
I'm pleased to tell you tonight that UK exports to Nigeria rose by 43% last year to over £1.4bn. Two way trade now stands at £2.3bn - a record! My UKTI team are one of the top performing teams in the world based on a range of measures including revenue generation and independent quality aspects.
This merger is all about international expertise supported by a strong team of local consultants. Exactly the way that development in Nigeria can take place with this kind of commercial partnership.
Trade is the engine for additional growth going forward. The vehicle for greater world prosperity going forward. Education, skills, management, innovation, knowledge, connections that’s what the Nigerian private sector needs in order to be competitive and that’s what the UK private sector can offer.
But confidence is needed to attract quality. Transparency and international standards, standards of integrity, are needed even more now than before the global down turn- to give confidence to international investors who are prudent and prioritising in this current climate. You know that the best companies know what’s what. They need substance not form. They need professionalism and responsibility in branding. They need good PR.
Remember as another African saying goes, ‘when a road is good it is used a second time.’
Thank you all for coming tonight.