Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Adam Afriyie and Rory Stewart(7 years, 1 month ago)
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Adam Afriyie (Windsor) (Con)
The Minister of State, Department for International Development (Rory Stewart)
The Prime Minister and Secretary of State have made it clear that the Commonwealth is absolutely central to our future policy, and that is not just true in respect of forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings; the 20 largest DFID recipient countries include Nigeria, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi and Sierra Leone, in which our programmes extend from health and education, to economic development, without which there can be no jobs or growth.
Mr Speaker
We appreciate the power of recall of the hon. Gentleman’s exceptionally fertile mind.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Adam Afriyie and Rory Stewart(7 years, 4 months ago)
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Adam Afriyie (Windsor) (Con)
It is striking that Commonwealth countries trade 25% more with each other at a cost that is 90% lower than with non-Commonwealth countries. Does the Minister agree that, as we leave the EU, we have a great opportunity to boost our mutual trade and security interests by enhancing our diplomatic relations with Ghana and other Commonwealth countries?
The Minister for Africa (Rory Stewart)
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend, who is our trade envoy to Ghana. Ghana is one of the most impressive recent developments in Africa, with three recent transitions of democratic power and a rapidly growing economy. It is a huge example of how the Commonwealth can become one of the great success stories of Britain’s next five years, as we move towards the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.