EVENTS 2025
MARITIME & THE BLUE ECONOMY WEBINAR
We held a third engaging webinar which focused on the maritime and blue economy, bringing together businesses from Scotland and Kenya to address critical challenges in these sectors and speakers including the President of Kenya's Advisor on the Blue Economy, Nancy Karigithu, Gatsby Africa and the Scottish Maritime Cluster. Kenya’s coastal and marine environments face significant threats from pollution, overfishing and climate change. In response, Scottish businesses, leaders in maritime technology & skills training and the blue economy, can play a key role in driving sustainable solutions.
SCOTLAND-
COTE D'IVOIRE RESEARCH & INNOVATION EXCHANGE
Our Scotland–Côte d'Ivoire Research & Innovation Exchange roundtable was a resounding success, bringing together leading experts, institutions and businesses from both countries to explore opportunities for collaboration across sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy, education and technology. The event highlighted the mutual potential for innovation-led growth and delegates left inspired by the shared commitment to advancing research, knowledge exchange and sustainable development between Scotland and Côte d'Ivoire.
SABA Briefing: UNLOCKING OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICA WITH DBT
Over 40 delegates registered for this inaugural session, diving into the practical ways the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) can support businesses looking to engage with African markets. We heard from our speakers that whether you're new to exporting or scaling up existing operations, DBT can help navigate regulatory requirements and provide guidance on accessing finance and managing risk. It’s a genuinely valuable resource for businesses with international ambitions. This session is part of a new initiative to keep Scottish Africa Business Association members and partners in the loop with timely updates, practical tools and direct access to the people who can really make things happen.
Côte d’Ivoire Delegation Visits Aberdeen to Boost UK–West Africa Trade
Aberdeen welcomed a high‑level delegation from Côte d’Ivoire for a series of high-impact meetings and site visits aimed at strengthening economic ties across energy, education & skills training and maritime innovation. The visit featured guided tours of Aberdeen’s key facilities, one-on-one business matchmaking sessions, and a roundtable lunch attended by senior figures from both Scotland and Côte d’Ivoire.
SABA Welcomes Ambassador of Morocco to Scotland
The Scottish Africa Business Association was proud to be at the heart of the recent visit by His Excellency the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco Hakin Hajoui — curating a dynamic and impactful business programme across Scotland. Over three days, we brought together businesses, government representatives, educational institutions and strategic partners to explore shared priorities in renewable energy, agritech, education & skills training and international collaboration.
From roundtables and campus tours to technical briefings and innovation showcases, this visit was a fantastic opportunity for our members and wider network to engage directly, build relationships and explore real-world opportunities for collaboration with Morocco.
HYDROGEN ROUNDTABLES IN KEY OVERSEAS MARKETS
Our Hydrogen Roundtable Series in London brought together an impressive line up of international partners, industry leaders and Scottish businesses to explore emerging hydrogen opportunities across Africa and the Middle East. Delivered in partnership with Scottish Development International, the series aligned with the Scottish Government’s Hydrogen Action Plan and underlined the importance of global connections as Scotland builds its role in the international hydrogen economy.
Namibia Roundtable
We opened the series with a session dedicated to Namibia where delegates heard directly from partners in country about plans for large-scale hydrogen development, upcoming investment prospects and insights from the African Green Hydrogen Summit. Our speakers shared updates on government priorities, infrastructure needs and routes for joint working. This session highlighted significant openings for Scottish companies with expertise in ports, skills, engineering and project development.
Oman Roundtable
Our second meeting was held at the Embassy of Oman and featured contributions from Her Excellency Arwa Al Bulushi along with Mr Abdul Aziz Al Shidhani from Hydrom who joined us from Oman. Discussions explored strategic ambitions for hydrogen and ammonia production, desalination at ports, export infrastructure and the technical pathways required for transporting liquid hydrogen. The conversation showcased real opportunities for collaboration between Scotland and Oman as both markets push forward with energy transition goals.
Morocco Roundtable
The third roundtable welcomed senior speakers from OCP and IRSEN who introduced delegates to the Green Energy Park and the MEA CleanTech Academy as well as Morocco’s growing focus on PtX technologies and the e-World PtX Summit. With Morocco holding around 70% of global phosphate reserves, the session also examined efforts to decarbonise transport and expand clean industrial production. Building on this strong engagement we plan to take a Scottish delegation to Morocco next year.
Egypt Roundtable
We closed the series with a well-attended session hosted by the National Bank of Egypt UK in partnership with the Egyptian Embassy and the Egyptian British Chamber of Commerce. Speakers gave a comprehensive overview of Egypt’s hydrogen ambitions including investment-ready projects and areas where Scottish technical strengths in engineering, ports, training and supply chain design can add real value. We were pleased to invite the Minister Plenipotentiary to Scotland to meet more of our members. On the back of this momentum we will lead a dedicated energy delegation to Egypt in April with a wider cross-sector visit later in the year.
The Hydrogen Roundtable Series demonstrated the strong appetite for collaboration between Scotland, Africa and the Middle East as governments and industries accelerate their clean energy plans. Each session created valuable space for technical discussion and market insight, supported new commercial relationships and highlighted SABA’s role in helping Scottish organisations move into high-growth international markets.