The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Jeffrey Mountevans, is to lead a business delegation to Luanda, Angola this coming week (21-23 February), helping to make sure London and the UK remain the regional partner of choice when it comes to financial and professional services.

Acting as ambassador for the UK’s financial sector, the Lord Mayor will be meeting with senior members of the government, central bank, investment authorities, regulators and business leaders. Other notable events he will take part in include:

• Speaking at a dinner attended by representatives from the newly-established UK-Angola Chamber of Commerce.
• Giving the keynote speech at a Public Private Partnership seminar (PPP) along with senior representatives of Urbinveste – the body responsible for the multibillion dollar projects to restructure the city of Luanda by 2030.

Speaking ahead of his trip, Lord Mayor Jeffrey Mountevans, said:

“There is truly a burgeoning bilateral trade relationship between the UK and Angola. Some of our biggest companies have a considerable presence in the country already and they are showcasing just how our two countries are natural trading partners.

“But at a time of increasing challenge, yet also of opportunity, we should be doing more to build on this: given the acute relevance of so much of the UK’s offering to Angola’s current requirements. That is why I am bringing with me a good number of UK companies who are looking for commercial opportunities in Angola.

“I am hoping that my visit will help cement these ties and help lay the foundations for a stronger economic partnership between our two countries.”

The British Ambassador John Dennis added:

“We are delighted to be welcoming the Lord Mayor here, and that his visit coincides with the first to Angola by the Prime Minister’s new Trade Envoy to the country, Baroness Northover. Their combined visits will demonstrate the major contributions which the UK can make to Angola’s urgent efforts to diversify its economy, boosting trade and investment between, and prosperity in, both countries”

The Lord Mayor will also be visiting Zambia and Mauritius as part of the visit.

Notes to editors

About the Lord Mayor of the City of London

• The Lord Mayor is head of the Square Mile’s City of London authority for one year and the position is unpaid and apolitical. It is an exceptionally demanding role. The Lord Mayor spends some 90 days abroad and addresses some 10,000 people face-to-face each month (making around 800 speeches a year).

• The Lord Mayor represents City businesses and helps the City Corporation advise the Government of the day on what is needed to help the financial services sector to function well. The Lord Mayor frequently travels to represent the City; and travels overseas with the status of a Cabinet Minister.

• The Lord Mayor meets several international Heads of Government and Business each month to discuss financial services, often in conjunction with senior City business representatives. The Lord Mayor lives in the Mansion House for the Mayoral year.