Business
Africa and Caribbean Forge Agri-Trade Bridge
A transatlantic economic corridor is taking shape as the 2026 Africa-Caribbean Investment Summit (AACIS) puts agriculture at the core of a deepening partnership between the two regions.
The sector serves as a natural anchor for cooperation. In Africa, it accounts for roughly 23 percent of GDP and employs over 60 percent of the workforce, per World Bank data.
Within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), agriculture contributes around 5 percent of GDP on average but remains vital for employment and food security. In Guyana, it represented nearly 25 percent of non-oil GDP in 2022.
Heavy reliance on food imports across the Caribbean underscores the potential for collaboration, particularly in local production and agri-food value chains. AACIS 2026 positions investment in modern farming, agro-processing, and rural infrastructure as a shared strategy to boost growth, enhance food systems, and build economic resilience.