Barbados may not be the first destination investors name when discussing Africa’s next major commercial frontier — but for three days in November 2025, the island became the centre of a transformative conversation. Conference halls across Bridgetown buzzed with discussions on capital, logistics and the potential of an Africa–Caribbean economic corridor long imagined but never fully realised.
That changed when a chartered jet from Accra touched down, carrying executives, officials and investors from Ghana. The flight — sponsored by Milvest, a subsidiary of Miller Holding and title sponsor of the GUBA Trade and Investment Conference and Awards 2025 — provided powerful proof that the bridge between Africa and the Caribbean is no longer symbolic. It is becoming structural.
Presiding over the moment was His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene of Ghana, whose presence added both gravitas and momentum. His message was direct: history binds Africa and the Caribbean, but investment will determine their shared future.
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From Ceremony to Commerce
The Accra–Bridgetown charter stands as the first direct, privately led link between the two regions. Its arrival signalled more than diplomatic goodwill — it demonstrated the viability of a new trade corridor.
“This is fundamentally about economic architecture,” said Lady Dentaa Amoateng MBE, Founder and President of GUBA Enterprise. She emphasised that Africa and the Caribbean share “market complementarities and resource synergies,” but have lacked the infrastructure of connection to make those synergies commercially meaningful.
Together, Africa’s 1.4 billion people and the Caribbean’s 44 million–strong diaspora form a market roughly equivalent in size to the European Union. The conference theme, “Reclaiming Our Atlantic Destiny: Build. Connect. Renew.”, captured that ambition.
A $3 Trillion Opportunity Emerges
Across the three-day conference, leaders outlined how sectors such as fintech, renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, and the creative industries could anchor a new economic partnership.
The timing could not be more strategic.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) — now the world’s largest free-trade zone by membership — is seeking deeper external partnerships to expand its $3.4 trillion GDP. Meanwhile, Caribbean nations are actively diversifying their economic relationships, exploring new alliances in manufacturing, agribusiness, and climate resilience.
“Caribbean nations can no longer afford to be spectators,” said Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland, Barbados High Commissioner to Ghana. “Africa represents one of the fastest-growing consumer markets globally.”
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Private Capital Takes the Lead
Turhan Mildon, CEO of Miller Holding and Milvest, underscored the need for private-sector leadership.
“There are no commercial flights linking Africa and the Caribbean,” he noted. “This initiative shows that connection isn’t a dream — it’s achievable.”
Support from the Government of Barbados — including Export Barbados, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., and the National Cultural Foundation — helped transform the summit into what Lady Amoateng calls “public–private diplomacy.”
Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s administration hosted key diplomatic events, reflecting her broader strategy of positioning Barbados as a Global South convening hub — a state small in size but significant in influence.
Major Breakthrough: Barbados–Ghana Chamber MOU
A major outcome was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI).
Signed by BCCI President Paul Inniss and GNCCI President Stephane Abass Miezan, the MOU transforms three years of dialogue into formal partnership.
“This is a meaningful step from symbolism to structure,” said Bynoe-Sutherland.
The agreement commits both Chambers to:
- knowledge exchange
- market access support
- business matchmaking
- advocacy for a permanent direct Accra–Bridgetown air link
The flight, they stressed, will be essential for unlocking real trade volumes.
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High-Level Attendance Highlights Global Significance
The event’s influence was reflected in its guest list.
Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, President of Barbados, attended and presented one of the top awards at the GUBA ceremony hosted at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle Resort.
Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell also joined the proceedings, alongside senior officials, investors, and cultural leaders from Africa and across the Caribbean.
“This partnership is not just about shared heritage — it is about shared prosperity,” President Mason noted.
The Asantehene’s Call for Economic Unity
Delivering the keynote address, the Asantehene urged the global African diaspora to shift the continent’s global narrative.
“The diaspora is crucial in moving from a story of dependence to one of opportunity and strength,” he said.
He emphasised using identity and cultural links as foundations for innovation, trade, and continental transformation.
Beyond Symbolism: Strategy in Motion
Panels at the conference advanced concrete proposals including:
- cross-border financing mechanisms
- digital payments architecture
- diaspora-led investment funds
- creative industry co-productions
- climate-adaptation partnerships
Barbados also became the first Caribbean nation to join the Connecting One Million Women in Trade network, opening new pathways for women entrepreneurs.
A Diaspora Investment Network was launched, with the first measurable projects expected within a year.
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Culture as a Growth Engine
At the conference’s gala, Ghanaian designer Grace Yeboah Ofori (TruFace by Grace) and Nigerian filmmaker Tola Odunsi showcased fashion and cinema as catalysts for economic exchange. Discussions surged around cultural exports, co-productions, and creative supply chains involving Nollywood, Ghana’s industry, and Barbados’s emerging film sector.
Positioned for a Multipolar Future
As global power dynamics shift, experts noted the strategic importance of this new alignment.
“Barbados is demonstrating what middle-power diplomacy looks like,” said Carol Roberts, CEO of the National Cultural Foundation. “We are positioning the island as a nexus for South–South collaboration.”
A Blueprint for South-South Trade
The significance of the Accra–Bridgetown charter extends far beyond a single flight. It proves that:
- Africa–Caribbean connectivity is commercially viable
- private capital can accelerate diplomatic goals
- the Atlantic can shift from a historical divide to a strategic bridge
Observers will watch to see how many MOUs, investment agreements, and supply-chain partnerships materialise in the months following. If successful, Barbados’s model could define a new chapter of globalisation — one centred on shared equity, not dependency.
For the Asantehene, Lady Amoateng, and the leaders who filled the conference halls, the message was clear: the symbolism has now become strategy. The Atlantic, once a route of unimaginable suffering, is being rewritten as a corridor of shared growth and opportunity.
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