About Us /
A New Era of South-South Trade
Africa and the Caribbean are bound by history, culture, and geographyโyet their economic relationship remains vastly underdeveloped. Despite shared historical ties and complementary economies, bilateral trade between the two regions has never exceeded 6% of their combined trade capacity. This represents one of the greatest missed opportunities of the 21st century.
The Africa Caribbean Business Forum exists to close this gap. We are the institutional bridge connecting entrepreneurs, investors, and institutions across these two dynamic regions, transforming trade from conversation into concrete transactions. From agriculture and energy to technology and financial services, ACBF creates the infrastructure for lasting economic partnership and shared prosperity.
The opportunity is clear: Africa-Caribbean trade is projected to grow from $729 million today to $2.1 billion by 2029โa nearly threefold increase driven by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and CARICOM regional integration initiatives. The question is not whether this growth will happen, but who will lead it.
Why Africa and the Caribbean Need Each Other
Complementary Strengths, Shared Prosperity
Africaโs Competitive Advantages
Natural Resources & Minerals
Africa possesses critical minerals essential for global supply chainsโcobalt, lithium, rare earthsโrepresenting approximately 8% of government revenues in resource-rich countries.
Agricultural Powerhouse
With over 60% of the worldโs uncultivated arable land, Africa is positioned to become a major global food exporter with diverse agricultural products.
Emerging Technology Sector
Africaโs tech ecosystem is one of the worldโs fastest-growing, with fintech innovation leading the way in solving real problems for millions.
Economic Resilience
Real GDP growth is projected to rise to 3.7% in 2024 and consolidate at 4.3% in 2025, with high-growth nations leading the way.
Caribbean Competitive Advantages
Strategic Geographic Location
The Caribbean sits at the intersection of North America, South America, and Africaโreducing shipping times and logistics costs for regional commerce.
Financial Services Excellence
Sophisticated ๏ฌnancial services infrastructure including banking, investment management, and capital markets expertise for scaling operations.
Tourism & Hospitality Excellence
World-class hospitality and customer service capabilities that translate to business process outsourcing and professional services.
Logistics & Maritime Infrastructure
Caribbean ports and maritime expertise position the region as a natural hub for regional trade and commerce facilitation.
THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WORKS
What Africa Offers the Caribbean
- Raw materials and agricultural products for processing and re-export
- Investment capital from growing African institutional investors
- Technology solutions and ๏ฌntech innovation
- Access to African markets (1.4 billion consumers)
What Caribbean Offers the Africa
- Capital and ๏ฌnancial expertise for scaling African businesses
- Access to North American and international markets
- Proven business process outsourcing and service delivery models
- Logistics and maritime infrastructure for trade facilitation
Why Us /
From Conversation to Transaction
Every Africa Caribbean Business Forum program is designed around three strategic pillars that move trade from dialogue to deals.
FOCUS AREAS
Priority Sectors
Africa Caribbean Business Forum concentrates on sectors where Africa and the Caribbean have the greatest complementarity and highest trade potential.
Agribusiness & Food Security
Processing, export, and value-added agricultural products.ย
Energy & Resources
Renewable energy, oil & gas, and infrastructure development
Financial Services
Banking, investment, insurance, and capital markets
Technology & Digital Services
Fintech, digital services, and innovation solutions
Tourism & Hospitality
Hospitality expertise and destination development
Manufacturing & Value-Added Production
Maritime infrastructure and supply chain solutions
The Institutional Platform for Africa-Caribbean Commerce
The Africa Caribbean Business Forum is more than a networking organizationโwe are the institutional infrastructure for a new era of South-South trade.
Our mission is grounded in the recognition that Africa and the Caribbean have been historically connected through culture, family ties, and shared heritage. Today, we are reconnecting these regions through commerce, investment, and shared economic prosperity.
Market Development
Sector-speci๏ฌc analyses helping entrepreneurs understand where the real opportunities lie.
Network Building
Connecting businesses, investors, and institutions through events, forums, and digital platforms.
Deal Facilitation
Supporting the entire deal process from initial negotiations to contract ๏ฌnalization.
Whether you are an entrepreneur seeking new markets, an investor looking for opportunities, a government body promoting regional trade, or a trade organization advancing commerce โ the Africa Caribbean Business Forum is your gateway to Africa-Caribbean commerce.