In a landmark development for Caribbean-African trade and economic cooperation, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Government of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis have formally signed a hosting agreement for the 2026 edition of the African Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF). The agreement, announced via Antigua.news, a regional Caribbean news outlet, cements St Kitts and Nevis’s role as the host nation for one of the most anticipated cross-regional economic gatherings of the mid-2020s.
ACTIF was established to create structured dialogue, build sustainable business connections, and unlock new trade and investment opportunities between African and Caribbean economies. The 2026 forum is expected to bring together hundreds of key stakeholders, including heads of state, senior government trade officials, private sector leaders, fintech innovators, and development finance institutions from both regions. Discussions at the event will likely center on priority areas such as blue economy collaboration, climate-resilient infrastructure investment, digital trade facilitation, small and medium enterprise (SME) empowerment, and value chain integration between the two regions.
For St Kitts and Nevis, securing the hosting rights for ACTIF2026 represents a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to position itself as a leading hub for regional and international economic events in the Caribbean. The forum is projected to deliver widespread economic benefits to the federation, ranging from increased international tourism exposure during the event to long-term investment opportunities in key local sectors including hospitality, logistics, and financial services. This partnership also deepens the growing strategic relationship between Afreximbank and Caribbean nations, as the bank continues to expand its engagement to support intra-Africa-Caribbean trade flows and address shared development challenges across both regions.