British companies are set to secure more than £330m in contracts for nine infrastructure projects located in Guinea and Benin. Tim Reid, chief executive of UK Export Finance, stated: "British businesses have won a huge number of contracts to support key infrastructure projects across the region in recent years, driving job creation in the UK while helping our partners in francophone Africa build the infrastructure they need. This is part of the reason we hold the WCAF, we’ve seen many deals signed over the years, and it highlights how UKEF can make a real difference around the world while driving growth in every postcode of the UK." Atam Sandhu, chief executive of DMA Invest, added: "WCAF is about turning relationships into results."
Expanding UK Export Finance Support
UK Export Finance is providing £1.1bn in financing and guarantees to support these infrastructure projects. The agency is also increasing its exposure capacity across West and Central Africa by £1.7bn. Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds stated: "These deals are a major win for UK businesses, helping them secure new contracts in fast-growing markets and driving jobs and growth across the United Kingdom. By backing projects like these, UK Export Finance is helping British firms win work overseas, creating opportunities for communities here at home while strengthening our trade partnerships across West and Central Africa." This financial support package aims to expand the reach of British companies within the region, building upon existing trade ties and facilitating long-term economic development.
Major Infrastructure Projects in Guinea
KDAW Construction Ltd received a £257m contract to execute a national water programme in Guinea. Construction Management Services secured a £191m contract to develop electrical substations within the country.
Elecnor gained two separate infrastructure agreements in Guinea. The firm holds a £129m contract for transmission lines and an additional £113m contract for a power line. QG Construction UK Ltd secured a £179m contract focused on the rehabilitation of National Route RN32.
Aqua Africa is currently delivering a water project in Guinea valued at £91m. Planet One won a £75m contract to build schools across Guinea.
Development Initiatives Across Benin
ACC UK Group Ltd secured two infrastructure agreements for projects in Benin. The company received an £82m contract to construct a government administrative complex. Additionally, the firm was awarded a £20m contract to build a defence and security campus. These projects form part of the broader infrastructure initiatives currently being supported by British firms across the region.
Strategic Trade and Investment Outlook
The fifth UK-West and Central Francophone Africa Trade and Investment Forum continues its proceedings through 21 October 2026. This gathering serves as the primary platform for facilitating the trade agreements and infrastructure commitments currently being executed by British firms throughout the region. Officials and private sector representatives are using the event to finalize the terms of the £1.1bn in financing and guarantees provided by UK Export Finance. The forum brings together stakeholders from the United Kingdom and across West and Central Africa to evaluate the progress of these ongoing projects. Discussions at the event focus on the integration of these contracts into the local economies of Guinea and Benin, ensuring the sustained development of these infrastructure initiatives.
