The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has signed a Hosting Agreement with the Government of St Kitts and Nevis for the fifth edition of the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum, known as ACTIF2026. According to Antigua.news, the forum is scheduled to take place from July 29–31, 2026, at the St. Kitts Marriott Beach Resort, Casino & Spa in Basseterre.
The signing signals a mutual commitment to deepening Africa-Caribbean partnerships and advancing trade and economic cooperation between the two regions.
Afreximbank President and Chairman of the Board of Directors Dr. George Elombi said the forum would bring together Africans on both sides of the Atlantic to address shared development challenges. "At the fifth edition of ACTIF, we will once again reunite with our fellow Africans across the Atlantic to reflect on our shared development challenges and to recommit to the implementation of strategic programmes that will advance our collective aspiration for self-determination and self-reliance," he said. "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."
St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance M. Drew welcomed the agreement, describing his nation as more than a tourist destination. "We are honoured to host 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," he said. "This forum will create lasting pathways that will 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."
Attendees at ACTIF2026 can expect panel discussions on regional trade, investment exploration, networking opportunities with key stakeholders, and presentations on initiatives designed to strengthen Africa-Caribbean economic cooperation.
The forum will serve as a high-level platform for African and Caribbean governments, investors, private sector leaders, development finance institutions, entrepreneurs, and diaspora stakeholders to chart a path for sustained economic growth amid global uncertainty.
Convened by Afreximbank, ACTIF has grown into the premier platform for mobilising capital, forging partnerships, and accelerating economic integration between Africa and the Caribbean. The most recent edition, ACTIF2025, recorded five Caribbean deals totalling USD 291.25 million across three countries, spanning trade and investment finance, corporate finance, project preparation, and export development.
Since opening its Barbados office two years ago, Afreximbank has approved more than USD 700 million in financing across the CARICOM region. That support has included climate adaptation initiatives 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.
