A UK government press release dated 20 October 2026 said British businesses were set to secure more than £330 million in export contracts tied to nine major infrastructure projects in Guinea and Benin, covering education, clean water, electricity transmission and government buildings. The deals were reported as being supported by £1.1 billion in financing and guarantees from UK Export Finance (UKEF), the government's export credit agency.

The release said UKEF was providing £75 million for an education programme delivering primary and secondary schools across four regions, £91 million for the Guinea Regional Water Project and £129 million towards the La Cotiere Conakry Transmission project. In Benin, it cited £82 million to help fund a new government administrative complex. It also said UKEF was increasing its exposure capacity across West and Central Africa by £1.7 billion.

The announcements coincided with the opening of the fifth UK-West and Central Francophone Africa Trade and Investment Forum in Conakry, Guinea. The release said the forum, hosted by UKEF with DMA Invest and the Guinean government, would run until 21 October 2026. Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and UKEF chief executive Tim Reid were quoted welcoming the contracts.