Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Trade on improving bilateral trade with developing countries.

The Department for International Development and the Department for International Trade are working together to ensure development and global prosperity are at the heart of UK trade and investment policy.

Once we leave the EU, the UK will be able to offer an integrated trade and development package, encompassing preferential trade arrangements for developing countries and aid that facilitates trade and promotes investment.

At the UK-Africa Investment Summit, we announced plans to establish an import promotion service, Trade Connect, to help developing countries make the most of preferential trade access to the UK, and increase their presence in international markets. We also announced an extension to our SheTrades Commonwealth programme so that it can continue to help female entrepreneurs to access trading opportunities.