Sundaymail Editor
Kudzanai Sharara in Bridgetown, Barbados
THE AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum 2022, which is underway in Bridgetown, Barbados, should be used to explore the possibilities that exist between Africa and the Caribbean in the areas of trade and investment, a senior Barbados government official has said.
In his remarks at a Welcome Cocktail Reception held on Wednesday evening, Barbados Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator Jerome Walcott, said AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum 2022 (ACTIF2022) should be used to enhance government-to-government business as well as business-to-business relations across the African and Caribbean continents.
He said the forum should be used to “engage in effective business to business match-making”.
ACTIF2022, which is running under the theme: ‘One People, One Destiny: Uniting and Reimagining Our Future’, takes place at a time when a deepening bilateral and multilateral relations across the two regions is pivotal amid shared success against all natural and man-made challenges which confront the global community, Senator Walcott said.
“This forum will aid us in strengthening collaboration not only in areas of trade and investment but also in tourism and culture sectors and in respect of facilitating technological transfers, innovation and entrepreneurship.”
ACTIF2022 is being convened by the Government of Barbados and Afreximbank, in collaboration with the African Union Commission, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the Africa Business Council, the CARICOM Secretariat and the Caribbean Export Development Agency.
The Forum is being co-managed by Invest Barbados and Export Barbados.
The CEOs of both agencies are keen to facilitate the Forum and have high expectations for the outcome of the three-day event.
Over 1 500 delegates from 93 countries (comprising 48 African countries; 12 Caribbean countries; and 33 other countries) had already registered for ACTIF2022 by Monday this week.
Participants include senior government representatives, business leaders, representatives of business associations, prospective investors and buyers, project promoters, development agencies, multilateral finance institutions, think-tanks and research institutions from Africa and the Caribbean.
Speaking at the same Welcome Cocktail Reception, Mr Ronald Sibongiseni Ntuli, an independent director on the Afreximbank Board of Directors said ACTIF2022 is historical as it helps the two continents to promote trade and investment between each other.
He said through Afreximbank, investors and businesses from the Caribbean have “a partner of choice that is familiar with every part of the African continent and ready to facilitate trade and investment”.
This inaugural forum is a key strategic milestone in the role of Afreximbank in organising and promoting trade, said Ntuli who is also chief executive officer of South African based Thelo Rolling Stock Leasing (Pty) Ltd.
“It is our hope that this coming together will enhance commercial relationships between our two regions,” said Ntuli.
ACTIF2022, which runs from September 1 to 3, will see the participation of a stellar cast of high-level speakers, including Professor Benedict Oramah, president and chairman of the Board of Directors of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank); Albert Muchanga, African Union Commissioner, economic development, trade, industry and mining; Wamkele Mene, secretary-general of the AfCFTA Secretariat; Vera Songwe, United Nations under-secretary-general and executive secretary, Economic Commission for Africa, and Pamela Coke-Hamilton, executive director at International Trade Centre.
This shows the high-level support for ACTIF2022’s intent to bolster bilateral cooperation and increase engagement in trade, investment, technology transfer, innovation, tourism, culture and other sectors.
According to the organisers ACTIF2022 is also expected to contribute to the implementation of the AfCFTA and the Caribbean trade development agenda, further reflecting the deep-rooted ties between Africa and the Caribbean based on their shared history, culture, common identity and destiny.
Online Reporter