Afreximbank promotes Africa-Caribbean trade corridor at Kingston roadshow

Nearly three years after establishing its CARICOM regional office in Bridgetown, Barbados, the African Export-Import Bank, Afreximbank, has brought its first roadshow and outreach programme to Kingston. The Jamaica event was held under the theme, "Empowering Jamaica's Growth, Catalyzing Trade, Investment, and Industrialization," and focused on expanding commercial links between the Caribbean and Africa.

Eric Monchu Intong, Afreximbank's group managing director for client relations and regional office operations, said the Kingston engagement followed Jamaica's accession to the bank's partnership agreement in July 2025. He described the occasion as an important step in the growing relationship between Jamaica and the African continent.

The bank is positioning itself to support stronger trade and investment ties between the Caribbean and Africa, whose economy was valued at US$3.5 trillion. The push comes as the African Continental Free Trade Area continues to expand and as Africa accounts for six of the world's 10 fastest-growing economies when growth and population increases are considered.

Afreximbank said its Caribbean office has already disbursed more than US$500 million across a range of regional transactions. After Jamaica signed the partnership agreement in July 2025, the bank's board approved a US$5 billion financing facility for the Caribbean, with Jamaica included.

Tourism was highlighted as one of the priority areas for Caribbean financing. Intong said Afreximbank has supported hotel infrastructure, tourism value chains and destination investment in several African countries, and argued that similar financing could be applied in Jamaica.

Barbara Hugh, chief executive officer of the Jamaica Bankers Association, said deeper Africa-Caribbean ties could create two-way opportunities. She pointed to African businesses in cocoa, shea, textiles, fashion, pharmaceuticals, packaging, renewable energy, agribusiness, infrastructure, technology and manufacturing as potential suppliers, partners, investors and joint venture counterparts for Jamaican firms. She also said Jamaican products such as Blue Mountain coffee, premium rum, sauces, spices and wellness items could find demand among African consumers, distributors, hotels, retailers, developers and investors.

As of the end of December 2025, Afreximbank's total assets and contingencies exceeded US$48.5 billion, while shareholder funds stood at US$8.4 billion. Finance Minister Fayval Williams also noted the bank's investment-grade profile, including a Japan Credit Rating Agency long-term issuer rating of A- with a stable outlook, A- rated bonds and a Moody's rating.