Bridgetown, Barbados — The CARICOM Private Sector Organization (CPSO) joins the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the African Union, and the people of Africa and the Caribbean in commemorating Africa-CARICOM Day 2026, celebrating the deep historical and cultural bonds between our peoples while reaffirming our commitment to transforming those bonds into enduring economic partnerships.
For the CPSO, this Day carries particular significance.
Over the past year, the CPSO, together with the Africa Business Council, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the International Trade Centre, has worked to identify and advance concrete opportunities for the people and businesses of our Regions on both sides of the Atlantic. Our combined efforts have brought businesses from both Regions together to examine real opportunities to build greater economic resilience, expand South-South trade and investment, and diversify our markets and supply chains.
In agribusiness sector, CPSO research has identified approximately US$322 million in potential trade opportunities between the two Regions. At the same time, emerging collaboration in areas including agriculture and agro-processing, beauty and fashion, technology, intellectual property, finance and business services demonstrates that the possibilities extend well beyond the movement of commodities.
As we continue to examine markets, identify partners, and confront practical barriers such as limited direct maritime and air connectivity and regulatory fragmentation, sustained engagement will be critical. Deepening business-to-business matchmaking, investment facilitation, and capacity building, particularly for MSMEs, women, and young entrepreneurs, will ensure these opportunities convert into meaningful economic outcomes.
These developments are occurring alongside Afreximbank’s expanded US$5 billion commitment to the Caribbean and ongoing work to strengthen the financial, payment, transport and institutional infrastructure necessary to support deeper trade and investment between our Regions.
Africa-CARICOM Day therefore gives us an opportunity not only to celebrate where we have come from, but to consider what we are now building together.
Our shared history connects us, but it is our shared interests that will continue to give us reason to cooperate, while the institutions we build, the investments we make, the businesses we connect and the opportunities we convert into measurable outcomes will determine the strength of the Africa-CARICOM relationship for generations to come.
The CPSO remains committed to working with our partners across Africa and the Caribbean Community to translate the political ambition of Africa-CARICOM cooperation into expanded trade, stronger businesses, more resilient supply chains, investment and sustainable economic opportunities for our people.
Happy Africa-CARICOM Day.
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