ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada – AS regional leaders continue to discuss strengthening ties between the Caribbean and Africa, calls are growing for concrete political action and legislative frameworks to transform these ambitions into reality.
The growing relationship between the two regions has gained momentum through the active involvement of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), which has provided a US$3 billion line of credit to support infrastructure development and investment opportuntities in the Caribbean.
Speaking to reporters at the conclusion of the Fourth AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum in Grenada, Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell, stressed the need for sustained commitment and tangible steps to turn diplomatic and trade aspirations into lasting outcomes.
"I mean, there's a lot that we can talk about, but I think we can first start with the movement of people and the need to ensure that we continue to resource and support the ability of the Caribbean and Africa to get to each other. And we've done so by hosting this event. Many of you who are here are here because of direct charter flights,” Mitchell said.
To foster these people-to-people connections, several direct charter flights have been arranged between the two regions, facilitating cultural exchange and tourism. Just last month, a charter flight from Nigeria arrived in St. Kitts and Nevis, bringing a contingent for cultural exchange activities.
Still, visa restrictions and trade barriers remain significant hurdles. Regional leaders are now being urged to take decisive steps to remove these obstacles, especially amid shifting global dynamics.
With the United States doubling down on its “America First” policies—including imposing 10 percent tariffs on Caribbean imports—Caribbean leaders see Africa as a key partner for economic diversification, especially in tourism and trade.
Experts from the African Union project that trade between Africa and the Caribbean could surpass US$2.1 billion annually. But for that to happen, both regions must deepen their economic infrastructure and investment in travel and trade.
"And so just on that basis, when we talk tourism, it's not just the Caribbean tourism of a beautiful random beach or waterfalls or great hotels, but it's also the type of tourism that makes you as a human being appreciate the significant beauty of Africa and its natural beauty, and getting an opportunity to experience that, which to a large extent the diaspora has been denied of because of the displacement that we face,” Prime Minister Mitchell told reporters.
Beyond tourism, Mitchell emphasized the importance of establishing sustainable institutions, including banks and financial systems, to support long-term trade and investment growth.
“If we don't accept that we have to continuously climb and stand on each other's shoulders to get out of the hole, we will remain in the hole," he noted.
With rising global tariffs from the U.S., China, and Europe affecting critical imports, Caribbean nations are seeking alternatives to reduce economic vulnerability. Mitchell underscored the need to build lasting air and sea transport systems that can connect the Caribbean and Africa—not just for commerce, but for mutual dignity and shared development.
"So. I think for me, the second point is making sure that we continue to deliberately, intentionally, for as long as it takes, begin to build the financial, trading, shipping, both air and sea links that we need to create the kind of wealth, the kind of opportunity, and the kind of dignity and pride that global Africans deserve, like the rest of humanity,” he stated.
The Fourth AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum brought together more than 2,000 delegates and regional leaders from Africa and the Caribbean, and was seen as a timely economic boost for Grenada during the offseason.
Mitchell emphasized that the outcomes of the forum could define the “very survival, prosperity, and dignity” of young people across the region who depend on bold economic policies and trade expansion to secure their futures.
St. Kitts and Nevis, which has been actively leveraging the Africa-Caribbean partnership, signed three contracts this year totaling US$140 million. The agreements cover major projects in infrastructure, agriculture, and trade.
