A WEE COUNTY woman Claire Alexander has helped launch a business network in Africa in a bid to improve links between the two countries.

The Africa Scotland Business Network (ASBN) was created to nurture cross-continental partnerships for trade and industry between the regions.

Claire hopes to connect African and Scottish professionals and enterprises to increase the potential for trade relations, while strengthening social and cultural ties.

In addition, the organisation welcomes members from other countries who have a real interest in doing business with the Africa and Scotland business diasporas.

Claire, from Menstrie, an entrepreneur living in South Africa and a director of ASBN, says their primary objective when developing the network was to develop a business collective that could assist business-people on the ground in Africa but also encourage African and Scottish businesses to take advantage of the immense opportunities in the shared economies.

She said: "We all experience different challenges in business. Strong business networks have been utterly intrinsic to the success of my own businesses here in Africa.

"The Africa Scotland Business Network is a gateway for Scottish businesses eager to work and invest in Africa but don't know where to start.

"We're a solution-driven business network with the common ground and the business expertise to alleviate as much risk as possible when entering the markets in Africa."

Kaz Henderson, founding member and entrepreneur, added: "Investment into Africa and South Africa is a hot topic at the moment.

"Over the past few days President Cyril Ramaphosa has addressed various international companies at the SA Investment Conference with the goal of building relationships and exploring ways to ignite growth together."

The network connects its members with relevant business contacts, new business opportunities and international resources such as industry, marketing and geographical expertise.

Its founding members represent key shared economies in Africa and Scotland including agriculture, agritech, oil and gas, renewable energy, technology, international business strategy, education and more.

At the launch event held on November 6 in Cape Town, the Africa Scotland Business Network recreated a little piece of Scotland in Africa, welcoming more than 150 business leaders, government and diplomats from ten different countries.

The next step is to host the first member event in Africa and, excitingly, to take a little piece of Africa to Scotland in early 2020 to promote the incredible opportunities that lie in Africa for Scottish investors.

For more information, visit africascotland.network or email hello@africascotland.network.