Barbados and its Caribbean neighbours are being encouraged to seize billions of dollars in untapped trade and investment opportunities with Africa. The call came as regional and African leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers gathered in Bridgetown for the opening of the inaugural GUBA Awards and Trade and Investment Forum on Monday.
The Grow, Unite, Build Africa (GUBA) Awards honour the achievements of individuals and organisations from Africa and the African diaspora. This year’s event, held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, brought together government officials, business executives, and cultural leaders to strengthen the growing bridge between Africa and the Caribbean.
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Lady Dentaa Amoateng, Chief Executive Officer of the GUBA Foundation, highlighted the need to shift trading patterns within the regions.
“Today, intra-African trade accounts for just 16 per cent of the continent’s total trade, compared to over 60 per cent in Europe and over 50 per cent in Asia. In the Caribbean, intra-regional trade hovers around 14 per cent,” she said.
Amoateng described these figures as a reflection of enormous potential rather than limitation.
“These numbers tell a story, not of weakness, but of unstoppable potential in Africa and the Caribbean, with a combined GDP of more than US$3.5 trillion and a population exceeding 1.4 billion.”
She called for structured partnerships between the two regions to establish enduring trade frameworks and industrial networks.
“To build means creating lasting frameworks in policy, in business and in mindsets. We must establish simple value chains that link Africa and the Caribbean,” she added, referencing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) as vital platforms for growth.
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Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw, addressing the three-day forum, emphasised that the event provides a unique opportunity to deepen ties and create new avenues for economic cooperation.
“Barbados and the wider Caribbean recognise our historical connection with Africa and have long embraced partnerships that promote trade and investment with countries across the continent,” Bradshaw stated.
She noted that Barbados has already strengthened engagement with nations such as Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Senegal, Rwanda, and Togo, supported by the establishment of diplomatic missions in Nairobi and Accra, as well as an honorary consulate in Kigali.
Among recent milestones, Bradshaw highlighted a bilateral air services agreement between Barbados and Rwanda, designed to boost connectivity in both trade and tourism.
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She also revealed that Barbados is exploring new partnerships in bioscience and pharmaceuticals, noting that Barbados Pharmaceutical Inc. is advancing efforts to attract global pharmaceutical manufacturers through legislative and infrastructure development.
With its reputation for transparency and a growing network of double taxation agreements and a bilateral investment treaty with Mauritius, Barbados is positioning itself as a strategic gateway for African investment into the Americas.
“Through collaboration with ARI Investments in infrastructure and strategic partnerships, Barbados is cultivating a thriving environment for business, culture, and innovation,” Bradshaw said. “We are building the foundations for long-term prosperity that benefit both Africa and the Caribbean.”
The forum coincides with the arrival of a special chartered flight from Africa to Barbados, symbolising the strengthening bridge of commerce, culture, and connectivity between the two regions.
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