Africa and the Caribbean are positioning to deepen economic cooperation and unlock access to a combined $40 trillion market as stakeholders prepare for the 2026 edition of the Aquarian Consult Afro-Caribbean Investment Summit (ACIS).
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Serumun Ubwa, Chief of Staff at Aquarian Consult Ltd, said the second edition of the summit will build on the tangible outcomes recorded in 2025 and expand collaboration across agriculture, health, trade and investment.
Ubwa explained that the summit was conceived to provide African businesses with a credible platform to engage Caribbean counterparts in structured dialogue capable of translating into measurable partnerships.
According to her, the inaugural 2025 summit, which featured Saint Kitts and Nevis as the country of focus, marked a turning point in Africa-Caribbean engagement. She said that the event hosted a high-level delegation including the Prime Minister and senior government officials, and led to several bilateral engagements and agreements.
Among the major outcomes was what she described as a historic first direct flight from Nigeria to Saint Kitts and Nevis, the first direct air link from Africa to the Caribbean nation.
Multiple Memoranda of Understanding and letters of intent were also signed in agriculture and cultural exchange, alongside a $40 million deep-water port deal.
“The outcomes of that summit have been very significant and tangible. Post-summit in 2025, several things happened. We had the inaugural historic direct flight from Nigeria to Saint Kitts and Nevis, the first-ever direct flight from Africa to Saint Kitts and Nevis.
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“There were bilateral meetings between ministries and government agencies in both regions. Several Memoranda of Understanding and letters of intent were signed in agriculture and cultural exchange. A $40 million deep-water port deal was secured, among other outcomes,
“The 2025 summit showed us that we can move from dialogue to actual, actionable outcomes,” Ubwa said
Building on that momentum, she noted that the 2026 summit has been expanded to include two additional high-level events: the Afro-Caribbean Agriculture and Food Security Summit (March 23–24) and the Afro-Caribbean Health Summit (March 26), alongside the main Investment Summit scheduled for March 25–28.
Ubwa noted that agriculture and health were identified as priority sectors following bilateral discussions after the 2025 event. “The Caribbean region currently imports a significant portion of its food, presenting opportunities for African producers to access new markets while helping reduce food import costs in the Caribbean,” she added
She also said that Ministerial roundtables are expected to focus on aligning policies to facilitate direct trade flows, while structured business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) matchmaking sessions will aim to accelerate cross-border transactions and joint ventures.
The summit is projected to attract more than 2,000 participants, including current and former heads of government, regional investment promotion agencies, multilateral institutions, sovereign wealth funds and private sector leaders.
“An expanded Investor Deal Room will also feature investment promotion agencies from both regions, providing detailed information on available opportunities across high-impact sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, tourism, creative industries, energy and digital technology.
“Trade between Africa and the Caribbean currently accounts for less than one per cent of total trade volumes, a figure organisers believe underscores both the challenge and the opportunity.
Speaking on the outcome of the 2025 inaugural summit she said that “Nigerian businesses that travelled to Saint Kitts and Nevis in 2025 exhibited their products and many sold out. Some partnerships are still being negotiated. These processes take time, but progress is being made,” Ubwa said.
She stressed that government participation remains critical to sustaining momentum, noting that policy alignment is essential to support private sector expansion across borders.
Describing ACIS 2026 as more than a conference, Ubwa said it represents the formalisation of a transatlantic economic bridge designed to convert shared history into structured trade, institutional capital flows and long-term partnerships.
