CARICOM Secretary-General urges stronger Africa-Caribbean trade ties

At the fourth AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) on Monday, CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett delivered a compelling call to action: strengthen Africa-Caribbean economic partnerships through inclusive, people-driven collaboration that centers young people, women, and the African Diaspora.

- Advertisement -

Held in St. George’s, Grenada, ACTIF 2025 comes at a time of global uncertainty, with geopolitical tensions and shifting trade landscapes threatening multilateral cooperation. Yet, the theme of this year’s forum, “Resilience and Transformation: Enhancing Africa-Caribbean Economic Cooperation in an Era of Global Uncertainty,” set an optimistic tone for renewed partnerships grounded in shared history, values, and opportunity.

“We must bring focused intent on making our partnerships inclusive and for our people to connect or re-connect for those partnerships to thrive,” said Dr. Barnett. “CARICOM remains committed to working side by side with the African Union to ensure broad-based collaboration that includes young people and women.”

Strengthening South-South ties

The Secretary-General highlighted several key developments in the growing Africa-CARICOM relationship:

The launch of a Green, Resilient and Sustainable Facility (GRSF) through a partnership between Afreximbank and the CARICOM Development Fund.

Preparations for the second CARICOM-Africa Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on September 7, 2025.

Progress toward a Memorandum of Understanding between CARICOM and Afreximbank to bolster trade, logistics, and financial integration.

Trade still modest, but opportunity beckons

Despite shared cultural and historical ties, trade between the two regions remains underdeveloped. Dr. Barnett pointed out that CARICOM’s trade with Africa accounts for less than 3% of its overall trade—an imbalance she sees as ripe for correction.

To address this, she cited priority areas like:

Maritime and air connectivity to boost trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges.

Technology transfer, including a regional payment system modeled after the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System.

Support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to access cross-regional markets.

“The Forum is becoming a foundation on which we can and will strengthen trade and investment cooperation,” she said. “We must decisively open the door to greater trade between our regions.”

Reparatory justice and historical context

Dr. Barnett also reaffirmed CARICOM’s joint advocacy with the African Union for reparatory justice for the transatlantic slave trade and chattel slavery—a key issue within the ongoing Second International Decade for People of African Descent. She noted that the Caribbean’s designation as the Sixth Region of the African Union gives the partnership historical weight and contemporary urgency.

Looking ahead

With the support of institutions like Afreximbank, including plans for a Caribbean Exim Bank and the opening of the African Trade Centre in Barbados, the Secretary-General said she’s confident that meaningful progress lies ahead.

She extended special thanks to outgoing Afreximbank President Professor Benedict Oramah, and welcomed his successor, Dr. George Elombi, calling on both sides to “carry forward the momentum we have developed together.”

“We have a lot of work to do together,” she concluded, “but this Forum proves that we have the vision, the will, and the partners to get it done.”