Friday, June 5, 2026
Friday, June 5, 2026
Trade below 1% but Caribbean finds voice at Africa’s largest fair
By Kurt Campbell in Algeria
The fourth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) opened in Algiers, Algeria, on Thursday with a clear message that trade and investment are not just unifying Africa but extending firmly to the Caribbean, the African Union’s recognised sixth region.
Billed as the continent’s largest and most important trade fair, IATF2025 has drawn over 35,000 participants, 2,000 exhibitors and representatives from 75 countries. Hosted by Afreximbank in partnership with the African Union Commission and the AfCFTA Secretariat, the fair has grown into the premier marketplace for African and diaspora businesses.
Deals worth $120 million were signed across the last three editions, and this year is already on course to be the most successful yet, with $44 billion in trade and investment transactions projected.
While opening speeches by Afreximbank President Prof. Benedict Oramah, Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, and IATF Advisory Council Chairman Olusegun Obasanjo gave only passing mention to the Caribbean, it was Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew of St Kitts and Nevis who made the region’s presence felt during the first high-level panel.
“It is a pleasure for me to be here today. I come from the Caribbean and you would ask, why is the Caribbean included in such a forum?” Dr Drew began.
“Just to set the history straight, the Caribbean is part of the sixth region of the African Union. We are part of the diaspora.”
Tracing the centuries-old link between Africa and the Caribbean through the transatlantic slave trade, Drew urged the forum to see the past not just as trauma but as an opening for renewal.
“That trade was for others to benefit at our demise. But today, instead of a triangle of exploitation, we can build a Transatlantic Bridge of Hope where Africa and the Caribbean reconnect through trade for all our benefit.”
Drew, the incoming Chair of CARICOM, highlighted the region’s historic role in Pan-Africanism, from Marcus Garvey and George Padmore to reggae and the steel pan and emphasised that political solidarity must now translate into economic cooperation.
“Our trade with Africa is less than 1%. That’s not a weakness, it’s an opportunity. There’s only one way it can go: up.”
He pointed to concrete areas of collaboration – renewable energy, tourism, agriculture, technology, healthcare and the creative industries. He also flagged one of the most immediate challenges – connectivity.
“There are no direct flights between Africa and the Caribbean. Yet, believe it or not, it is shorter for me to travel from St Kitts to Algiers than it is to London and still, I have direct flights to London and none to Africa. That must change.”
Caribbean businesses, he stressed, are no longer on the sidelines. Two African–Caribbean summits have been held in recent years, the most recent in Grenada, drawing entrepreneurs and investors. Drew revealed that companies from Africa are already pursuing investments in the Caribbean, while partnerships are growing in education and vocational training with institutions in Kenya, Tanzania and Ghana.
For Afreximbank, the Caribbean’s participation reflects a long-term vision. After nearly eight years and four successful fairs, the IATF is being institutionalised with a new headquarters in Harare, Zimbabwe, backed by a $28 million capitalisation. A dedicated fund will also be launched to ensure sustainability and broader inclusion.
Prof. Oramah, in his final opening address as Afreximbank President, called the IATF “a revolution without banners or fanfare” that is driving Africa’s economic emancipation.
“Instead of fighting in trenches, this battle will be fought on factory floors and tech incubation centres,” he said. “Africa needs partners that respect it, and the Caribbean, as part of global Africa, is one such partner.”
