LONDON, UK – July 22, 2026 – In a keynote address delivered at the Royal African Society’s 125th Anniversary Flagship Business Event, hosted at the London Stock Exchange, Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew has thrown his weight behind a transformative new era of economic collaboration between Africa, the Caribbean, and the global African diaspora, urging stakeholders to turn centuries of shared history into a foundation of mutual investment, expanded trade, and inclusive, long-term prosperity.
Speaking to a cross-sector audience of senior policymakers, global investors, diplomatic representatives, and C-suite business executives, Drew framed the concept of “Global Africa” – encompassing the African continent and its interconnected diaspora across the Caribbean and beyond – as one of the world’s most underutilized, high-potential economic spaces. He argued that deep cultural and familial bonds between African and Caribbean communities must evolve beyond shared heritage to encompass tangible, mutually beneficial commercial and institutional cooperation.
“We have inherited a shared history. We must now construct a shared economy,” Drew stated. “Family must mean more than shared memory. Families must invest together. Families must trade together. Families must build institutions together.”
Drew outlined key priorities for strengthening regional integration, including the development of more resilient, modern trade routes, updated cross-border payment infrastructure, improved maritime and air transportation links, and expanded labor mobility between the two regions. He specifically highlighted the strategic value of deeper alignment between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), noting that coordinated action between the two blocs would unlock unprecedented market access for small and medium enterprises, innovators, and entrepreneurs across both regions.
The Prime Minister also detailed Saint Kitts and Nevis’ proactive role in advancing Africa-Caribbean cooperation to date. The island nation has already built a formal partnership with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), participated in multiple consecutive Afri-Caribbean Investment Summits, and was recently selected as the host of the fifth AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF), a gathering that will bring together hundreds of stakeholders from across both regions to advance concrete investment deals.
Closing his address, Drew emphasized that the moment for action has arrived. To deliver inclusive, sustainable economic growth that lifts marginalized communities and creates opportunity for future generations, Global Africa must prioritize investment in cross-regional institutions, critical infrastructure, and equal partnerships. He called for a future where Africa and the Caribbean stand as equal partners, collaborating to shape a more balanced global economic order rooted in shared ownership and mutual prosperity.