At the end of the works held from 23 to 28 March in Abuja, the summit adopted a renewed vision of cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean, embodied by the theme ‘One voice, one vision: advancing Afro-Caribbean unity’. From health to agriculture, via innovation and economic exchange, the areas of collaboration have been consolidated. The participants endorsed a transformative partnership aimed at leveraging the Afro-Caribbean corridor as a sustainable driver of development, inclusion, and access to essential services.
The AACIS’26 summit concluded on 28 March 2026 with landmark commitments aimed at strengthening Afro-Caribbean trade cooperation. Four major partnerships were established in agriculture, the creative industries, industrial development and audiovisual content, with a view to promoting shared narratives. A multilateral memorandum of understanding was also signed, whilst an estimated agricultural trade potential of $15 billion opens up promising economic prospects for both regions.
‘We’ve also run an initiative in Africa. You see, a lot of people told me there was no traffic between the Caribbean and Africa. Many claimed that Africans didn’t want to go to the Caribbean. They just want to get their passports and, once they’re ready, they go off to party. So we organised the first flight to prove that businesspeople do want to go to the Caribbean, and that’s exactly what they did.”
Aisha Maina, Managing Director of Aquarian Consult Limited – Nigeria
The issues discussed highlighted persistent constraints, notably high logistics costs, which account for up to 14% of the value of exports in sub-Saharan Africa, compared with a global average of 8%. Participants emphasised the urgent need to invest in port and digital infrastructure, as well as in financing mechanisms tailored to SMEs. Access to credit remains limited, with fewer than 30% of African businesses having access to formal financing.
“That is why, in Saint Vincent, we say: ‘Put your money where your mouth is’.” This does not always mean money in the strict sense, in the form of cash or bank accounts. It means getting down to work where we have said we need to get down to work. It is therefore a question of taking action, not just talking.”
Dr Terrence Drew, Prime Minister, Chair of CARICOM, Saint Kitts and Nevis
The projections emerging from the summit reflect a tangible commitment to accelerating growth, with a target of increasing trade between Africa and the Caribbean to $1.8 billion by 2028. This momentum is underpinned by estimated regional growth of 3.8% in Africa for 2026, according to the World Bank. The commitments made aim to strengthen economic resilience, diversify exports and promote more inclusive integration into global value chains.
