The economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean are set to deepen as regional leaders converge at a major summit in Nigeria, aiming to transform longstanding cultural connections into concrete trade partnerships. The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) will host its highly anticipated 32nd Annual Meetings (AAM) in Abuja from June 23-28, bringing together influential policymakers, business leaders, and academics from both regions.
This year’s discussions take on heightened significance, particularly as Afreximbank expands its footprint in the Caribbean with a multimillion-dollar trade center planned for Barbados. The bank’s president, Professor Benedict Oramah, has emphasized that the facility will serve as a hub for facilitating investment flows, showcasing African and Caribbean business opportunities, and strengthening economic resilience across both markets.
Beyond trade financing, the upcoming summit will focus on accelerating the implementation of an Africa-Caribbean free trade agreement—an initiative long envisioned as a catalyst for mutual growth. Grenada, in a separate move, has already signed on to host the fourth AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) in July, attracting more than 800 delegates with a focus on high-growth sectors such as energy, logistics, IT, and the creative industries.
Afreximbank’s annual meetings have historically been a cornerstone for shaping Africa’s economic trajectory, and this year’s event promises to extend that influence to the Caribbean. With over 6,000 global delegates expected, discussions will center around strategies to unlock cross-border investments, reduce trade barriers, and position African and Caribbean enterprises on a global stage.
As Africa and the Caribbean continue to explore synergies in commerce, tourism, and financial services, these engagements mark a turning point in redefining South-South cooperation. The 2024 Afreximbank meetings signal not just dialogue, but action—a commitment to forging a new era of economic interconnectivity between two regions bound by history, yet poised for a dynamic future.
