Changes which came into effect on 1 January 2026 introduced a new regional cumulation arrangement covering 50 African countries. The reforms allow qualifying goods to be sourced, processed and combined across multiple African markets while continuing to benefit from preferential access to the UK, creating significant new opportunities for businesses seeking resilient, diversified supply chains.
While the policy changes simplify market access, many UK companies continue to face practical challenges including identifying trusted local partners, navigating regulatory requirements, managing cross-border logistics and protecting commercial interests.
Anglia Xchange, a new UK trade and growth advisory, has launched to answer that question. The firm helps British companies find credible commercial partners across Africa, manage the customs and compliance detail on which a first transaction depends, and put agreements in place that protect their interests once trading begins.
Its work covers trade and commodity brokerage, import and export logistics, agricultural supply chains and renewable energy development.
Clients can engage Anglia Xchange for a single introduction or retain it throughout the entire lifecycle of a project, from opportunity identification and due diligence through to negotiation, implementation and delivery.
Anglia Xchange is led by Olu Abdulkareem, Senior Director, Markets & Business Expansion, whose career spans more than two decades across international law, global business development and commercial expansion throughout Africa. His experience includes delivering projects across the oil and gas, manufacturing, steel, mining and infrastructure sectors.
This legal and commercial background shapes how the firm operates. Alongside making introductions, it works to ensure that the contracts, leases and memoranda of understanding behind a deal are sound and that a British business is properly protected once it starts trading.
The company maintains active partnerships, licences and logistics networks across 12 African markets, including Nigeria, South Africa, Gabon, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire and Uganda, with links extending further across the continent.
Its leadership has practical experience resolving complex commercial challenges in African markets. That often puts many British firms off before they start.
In one notable assignment, Abdulkareem helped preserve a European company’s multi-million-dollar contract in Gabon after negotiations with local stakeholders had broken down. Working closely with diplomatic representatives and relevant government authorities, he helped restore dialogue and resolve the dispute, protecting both the commercial agreement and the long-term business relationship.
In another engagement, he developed a series of embassy-supported business events across several African countries that enabled a UK financial services firm to connect with British expatriates seeking specialist pension advice, creating significant new commercial opportunities.
“The UK’s new trading arrangements create a genuine opportunity for British businesses to build stronger commercial relationships across Africa,” said Olu Abdulkareem, Senior Director, Markets & Business Expansion at Anglia Xchange.
“However, success in Africa requires much more than understanding the regulations. It depends on trusted relationships, careful due diligence, local knowledge and the ability to execute effectively on the ground. That is where Anglia Xchange adds value. We combine British commercial standards with established African networks to help businesses enter new markets with confidence.”
Anglia Xchange works with companies entering Africa for the first time as well as organisations expanding existing operations across sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, renewable energy, aviation, financial technology, logistics and professional services.
As UK businesses increasingly look beyond traditional markets for growth, Anglia Xchange aims to become a trusted strategic partner helping British companies build sustainable, commercially secure and long-term business relationships across Africa.
“Entering Africa is not the challenge. Entering Africa successfully is. Anglia Xchange helps British businesses do exactly that.”
“Success in Africa requires much more than understanding the regulations. It depends on trusted relationships, careful due diligence, local knowledge and the ability to execute effectively on the ground.”
