Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will take steps to ensure that CDC Group’s partnership with DP World leads to the creation and protection of good quality jobs in Africa following the recent dismissal of 800 workers at DP World-owned P&O Ferries.

CDC Group partnered with DP World to modernise and expand ports and logistics across Africa starting with three ports in Dakar, Sokhna and Berbera. Trade enabled through the three initial ports will improve access to vital goods for 35 million people and support 5 million jobs (138,000 created). By 2035, an estimated $51 billion in additional trade is forecast to pass through the ports, equivalent to 3 per cent of Senegal's GDP, 3 per cent of Egypt's GDP and 6 per cent of Somaliland's GDP.

CDC invests in accordance with its Policy on Responsible Investing which is aligned to international best practice and sets out the approach to environment, social and governance (ESG) matters. The Policy on Responsible Investing includes a focus on job quality, including the rights of workers and employees. All investments - including CDC's investment partnership with DP World in Africa - are subject to these standards.