(FILES) In this file photo taken on December 06, 2019 Britain’s former prime minister Tony Blair. (Photo by Tolga AKMEN / AFP)
By Adeyemi Adepetun
The Tony Blair Institute (TBI) has appointed Frank Matsaert as the Director of Trade and Infrastructure for Africa effective December 1, 2022.
Matsaert, in his new role, will work closely with Guy Baron, TBI’s Investment Director, to grow trade and investment by scaling-up trade facilitation and creating a pipeline of viable trade investments across Africa and will be based in Nairobi.
Matsaert was the founder and Chief Executive Officer of TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) from its establishment in October 2010 until August 2022, growing it from a $60million programme to the largest and most successful trade facilitation institution in Africa, with a cumulative budget of $1.3 billion across fifteen countries.
He received an MBE award from Her Majesty the Queen for his services to trade and economic development in Eastern Africa in June 2022.
Matsaert expressed his delight to be joining the institute as the new Trade and Infrastructure Director.
“Our aim is clear: to grow investment and trade across Africa by investing in trade systems with partner Governments, regional bodies and the private sector.
“Our priorities will be to build on the Institute’s strong reputation for delivery at the heart of Government on trade, and to attract investment in key trade infrastructure and private sector projects across the Continent,” he said.
Managing Director of Africa Advisory at the Tony Blair Institute, Rishon Chimboza, said Matsaert joins TBI at a critical time for governments across Africa, as the institute seeks to attract investment and grow trade opportunities.
He said Matsaert will bring unrivalled experience in trade facilitation and private sector development to the institute’s work supporting governments across the continent.
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