Brief Summary
The 2026 Afro-Caribbean Investment Summit concluded with a focus on strengthening ties between Africa and the Caribbean. Key outcomes included the launch of a $2 billion Afro-Caribbean Creative Economy Fund, MOUs signed to foster business protection, and a commitment to address trade and travel barriers. The summit emphasized the importance of private sector leadership, cultural exchange, and unified storytelling to drive progress and unity.
- Launch of Afro-Caribbean Creative Economy Fund
- Visa-free access between St. Kitts and Nevis and Nigeria
- Focus on trade, investment, and cultural collaboration
Planting of Coconut and CCBM Plants
Three coconut and three CCBM plants are planted with feed, symbolizing a cultural exchange initiated by Mr. Duggin to strengthen the connection between Africa and the Caribbean. This initiative aims to reopen roots and create a corridor between the two regions, with the tree being named Wi-Fi to represent the good connection between the countries.
Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony of the Afro-Caribbean Investment Summit 2026 welcomes diplomats, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders committed to Afre-Caribbean progress. The summit aims to foster robust celebrations, high-level dialogues, strategic partnerships, and transformative conversations to redefine African relations. The speaker expresses pride in the progress made since the previous year and emphasizes the shared rhythm, vision, and voice between the regions.
National Anthems
The national anthems of Nigeria and St. Kitts and Nevis are performed, symbolizing unity and shared heritage. The anthems reflect themes of peace, justice, freedom, and the commitment to serve and honor their respective lands.
Introductions of Dignitaries
The Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, along with several ministers from various Caribbean and African nations, are introduced. Aisha Mayna, Group Managing Director of Aquarian Consult Limited, is also acknowledged among leaders, innovators, and partners in progress.
Summit Overview
The final day of the Afro-Caribbean Investment Summit 2026 is introduced, highlighting the progress made in building bridges, sparking possibilities, and strengthening bonds between Africa and the Caribbean. The summit has moved beyond dialogue to direction, ideas to intention, and connection to commitment, serving as a launchpad for future endeavors. The hosts emphasize the shared future and advancing Afro-Caribbean unity.
Cultural Performance by Vikl Edwards Douglas
Vikl Edwards Douglas performs "The Vows of the Transatlantic," inspired by the connection between St. Kitts and Nevis and Nigeria. The piece speaks to the transatlantic marriage between a mother and a memory, roots and branches, and the reunion of Nigeria and St. Kitts and Nevis. The Atlantic is portrayed as an aisle, with history walking the two regions down it, emphasizing unity, recognition, and the reclaiming of rhythm and royalty.
Musical Performance by Cole Bad
Cole Bad, a Caribbean artist from Grenada, performs a medley of pop, dancehall, and soul music. She engages the audience with energetic performances of "In Blood," "Can't Take This From Me," and other songs, celebrating Caribbean culture and unity with Africa.
Summit Outcomes by PWC Manager Emanuel Ehiga Metto
Emanuel Igto from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) presents the outcomes of the Afro-Caribbean Investment Summit. Day one focused on the creative economy, emphasizing narrative control, infrastructure, co-production, and IP sovereignty, including the signing of an MOU for film partnership. Day two continued the focus on controlling the Afro-Caribbean narrative. Day three centered on agriculture and trade cooperation, highlighting food security, climate-smart financing, and a $15-20 billion Afro-Caribbean agriculture trade potential. Day four covered industrialization with a focus on health, including import substitution and investments in cancer and eye health. Day five addressed the role of the private sector, technology, and efficient payment systems, stressing the private sector's role in driving integration.
Key Initiatives and Imperatives
Key initiatives from the summit include building a trans-Atlantic creative corridor, establishing an Afro-Caribbean creative fund, strengthening IP protection, developing regional creative hubs, expanding cultural diplomacy, and upgrading digital infrastructure. For agriculture and trade, initiatives include commissioning studies for direct flights and shipping routes, harmonizing custom frameworks, developing a unified Africa trade database, and expanding market access. In health, the focus is on building regional diagnostic hubs, introducing ring-fenced budgets for cancer, scaling health commitments, and developing local manufacturing for medical consumables and vaccines. Governance policy reform includes establishing working groups for agriculture, trade, creative industries, and investment, conducting investment execution gap analysis, and harmonizing regulatory frameworks. Four key imperatives to drive these initiatives are trust, private sector leadership, storytelling, and addressing execution gaps.
Cultural Performance by Sancofa Makavee
Sancofa Makavee performs, emphasizing African unity and the importance of love, peace, and security. He acknowledges key figures and expresses gratitude for the opportunity to connect with others in Africa. His performance includes themes of overcoming war and suffering, uniting the African diaspora, and prioritizing international morality and love for humanity.
Summit Highlights Video
A video presentation showcases highlights from the Afro-Caribbean Investment Summit, featuring key moments, performances, and testimonials from participants. The video underscores the summit's goals of strengthening connections, supporting trade and investment opportunities, and fostering cultural exchange between Africa and the Caribbean.
Tree Planting Ceremony
A tree planting ceremony takes place, where coconut and CCBM plants are planted to symbolize the cultural exchange and connection between Africa and the Caribbean. The tree is named Wi-Fi to represent the good connection between the countries.
Signing Ceremony
A signing ceremony occurs between Aquarian Consult, Working Capital Partners, and the government of Grenada. This memorandum of understanding signifies a commitment to shared growth, strengthened economic ties, and a future shaped by collaboration, leveraging expertise and unlocking opportunities for sustainable development.
Closing Remarks by Aisha Mayna
Aisha Mayna expresses gratitude to the team, partner organizations, and attendees for their contributions to the summit. She highlights the launch of the $2 billion Afro-Caribbean Creative Economy Fund, designed to allow creatives to access finance without selling their intellectual property. She also notes the signing of an MOU between the NIPC and the Grenada Investment Development Corporation, providing government protection for businesses operating between Nigeria and Grenada. Mayna emphasizes the importance of rewriting the narrative about traffic between the Caribbean and Africa, citing the success of the first commercial charter flight from the Caribbean to Nigeria. She urges everyone to get over their egos and protect the fragile bridge that has been built, emphasizing that sovereignty can be defined by shared African descent.
Closing Remarks by Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis
The Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis recognizes various dignitaries and expresses gratitude for their commitment to the cause. He highlights the expansion of the summit beyond St. Kitts and Nevis and Nigeria to include other Caribbean nations. He emphasizes the importance of intellectual property protection, citing the example of the steelpan. The Prime Minister discusses the Caribbean's contributions to music and philosophy, including pan-Africanism. He recounts his visit to Ghana to support the UN resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade as the greatest crime against humanity, which passed with the support of CARICOM and the African Union.
Commitments and Future Goals
The Prime Minister thanks the President of Nigeria and highlights the reciprocal visa-free access established between St. Kitts and Nevis and Nigeria. He questions why direct commercial flights between Africa and the Caribbean are not more common and suggests using Minimum Revenue Guarantees (MRGs) to attract airlines. He calls for increased investment in the Caribbean market and announces that St. Kitts and Nevis will move first to establish an MRG for a commercial flight from West Africa to the Caribbean. He also aims for all OECS countries to have visa-free access to Nigeria by the next summit.
Summit Conclusion
The hosts summarize the impactful six days of the summit, emphasizing the connections made and the commitment to advancing Afro-Caribbean unity. They announce the date for the next Afro-Caribbean Investment Summit, with the theme "The Next Frontier: Scaling Afro-Caribbean Trade Investment and Collaboration," focusing on the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The summit concludes with expressions of gratitude and cultural farewells.
