To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase trade with the Southern African Development Community Free Trade Area. [HL1237]

Her Majesty's Government's vehicle for increasing trade is UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), which currently has teams based in the SADC FTA countries of South Africa, Tanzania, Angola and Mozambique. These teams assist UK companies to do business in these markets, and also encourage potential investors into the UK. The amount of trade fluctuates with the level of interest shown by British companies in the area and, more usually, with specific opportunities in individual countries. UKTI keeps the deployment of its teams throughout the world under regular review to ensure they offer government support to trading relationships where it is most effective.

Information is provided on all markets via the UKTI portal www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk.