By Bassey Udo
The Government of St Kitts and Nevis has won the right to host the fifth edition of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF2026) scheduled for between 29 and 31 July 2026 at the St. Kitts Marriott Beach Resort, Casino & Spa in Basseterre.
The signing of the host agreement was signed between Afreximbank and the Government of St Kitts & Nevis on Tuesday to highlight a shared resolve to deepen Afri-Caribbean partnerships and enhance trade and economic ties.
President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Dr George Elombi, said the fifth edition of ACTIF would afford the Bank the opportunity to once again reunite with fellow Africans across the Atlantic to reflect on their shared development challenges and to recommit to the implementation of strategic programmes that would advance their collective aspirations for self-determination and self-reliance.
“Through ACTIF2026, we will identify priority projects and programmes and dedicate ourselves to effective execution. This will be the pathway to our shared economic development,” Elombi said
The Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrance M Drew, said the government was honoured to be selected as tbe host of the fifth edition of the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum.
“This agreement signals our strong commitment to strengthening economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean. We are not just a beautiful destination, we are a gateway for investment, a hub for enterprise, and a proud partner in the Renaissance of Africans. ACTIF2026 will serve as a catalyst for trade and investment, creating new opportunities for our people and businesses,” he said.
He said the forum would create lasting pathways that would benefit our citizens, our region, and the entire African continent for generations to come.“We look forward to welcoming delegates from global Africa to St Kitts and Nevis,” he added.
Beyond the beauty of the archipelago, he said attendees at the fifth edition of ACTIF2026 can expect opportunities to participate in panel discussions on regional trade, explore investment prospects, network with key stakeholders, and learn about initiatives aimed at strengthening Africa–Caribbean economic cooperation.
ACTIF2026 will provide a high-level platform for African and Caribbean governments, investors, private sector leaders, development finance institutions, entrepreneurs, and diaspora stakeholders to deliberate and determine the most suitable pathway for Global Africa to continue to grow amid uncertainty.
Convened by Afreximbank, ACTIF has emerged as the premier platform for mobilising capital, forging partnerships, and accelerating economic integration between Africa and the Caribbean.
ACTIF2025 recorded five Caribbean deals totalling $291.25 million across three countries, encompassing Trade and Investment Finance, Corporate Finance, Project Preparation, and Export Development.
Since opening its Barbados office two years ago, Afreximbank has approved more than $700 million in critical financing across the CARICOM region, including support for climate adaptation in Saint Lucia, sports infrastructure and tourism development in Barbados, SME financing in the Bahamas, tourism projects in Grenada, and oil and gas initiatives in Suriname, among others.
The Africa-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) is a premier platform that fosters trade, investment, and cultural exchange between Africa and the Caribbean.
Held in collaboration with regional bodies such as the Caribbean Community, the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area, ACTIF has facilitated dialogue, partnerships, and actionable frameworks that have bolstered commercial and investment ties between the two regions.
ACTIF, initiated and convened by Afreximbank, has rapidly evolved into a premier platform for policy dialogue, business networking, and deal-making, bringing together governments, private sector leaders, investors, and development partners from across Africa and the Caribbean.
Largely catalysed by the first-ever Heads of State and Government Summit of the Caribbean Community and Africa held on 7 September 2021, the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) is a key strategic initiative towards institutionalising the engagement between both regions’ private and public sectors to advance trade and investment relations.
