BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts – July 17, 2026 – Just five days ahead of the landmark gathering, the government of Saint Kitts and Nevis has confirmed that Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew will deliver the headline keynote address at the Royal African Society’s 125th Anniversary Flagship Business Event, scheduled to take place July 22 at the historic London Stock Exchange in the United Kingdom.
This year’s flagship summit marks a major milestone for the Royal African Society, which has spent 125 years dedicated to deepening ties between the United Kingdom and the African continent. The organization advances this mission through cross-sector collaboration, targeted investment, technological innovation, and people-to-people cultural exchange. The upcoming anniversary event will bring together a high-profile cohort of attendees, including top business leaders from Africa and the UK, institutional investors, senior policymakers, career diplomats, startup founders, tech innovators, and creative industry leaders.
Over the course of the summit, participants will explore new pathways for expanded economic collaboration between Africa and the UK, while working to cement London’s long-standing status as a preeminent global gateway for African capital and cross-border international investment.
The invitation for Drew to serve as the event’s keynote speaker is far more than a ceremonial honor: it signals growing global recognition of Saint Kitts and Nevis’s emerging leadership on the international stage, as well as Drew’s ongoing advocacy for sustainable development, inclusive economic transformation, and innovative cross-regional partnerships between Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and other developing economies around the world.
In a statement released ahead of the summit, Drew framed the opportunity as a significant privilege. “It is a tremendous honour to deliver the keynote address at this historic gathering as the Royal African Society celebrates 125 years of fostering dialogue, partnership and progress,” Drew said. “The future of global prosperity lies in stronger collaboration between Africa, the Caribbean, and our international partners. Saint Kitts and Nevis stands ready to contribute to that future by championing innovation, sustainable investment and people-centred development that creates opportunity, builds resilience and leaves no one behind.”
For the federal government of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Drew’s participation in this high-profile global event represents a critical strategic opportunity. Officials noted the gathering will allow the federation to deepen existing diplomatic and economic ties with global stakeholders, position the island nation as a competitive, attractive destination for foreign direct investment, and strengthen working relationships with an international community of leaders aligned around the goal of advancing inclusive, sustainable global economic development.