Grenada — July 29, 2025
Prof. Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank, has called on African and Caribbean nations to urgently build direct sea and air transport links to unlock the immense trade potential between the two regions—estimated at over $1 billion annually.
Speaking during a high-level infrastructure panel at the 4th AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF2025) in Grenada, Prof. Oramah delivered a compelling argument on why physical connectivity—not just cultural or political solidarity—is essential for economic transformation.
“We cannot build Afro-Caribbean trade routes with rhetoric,” Oramah said. “The reason intra-African trade remained low for decades is because the logistics infrastructure was never deliberately created. We must not repeat that mistake with the Caribbean.”
The packed session, titled “Building Bridges Amid Global Fragmentation,” drew over 900 delegates, including heads of state, central bank governors, ministers, and private sector leaders from across Africa and the Caribbean. The infrastructure discussion was one of the most anticipated of the forum, which spanned three days of high-level engagements and deal-making.
Symbolism is Not Enough
Oramah’s message was clear: solidarity is no substitute for strategy.
Despite longstanding cultural and historical ties between Africa and the Caribbean, trade volumes remain dismally low, due in part to the absence of direct logistics corridors. Goods often take circuitous routes—via Europe or the United States—resulting in delays, higher costs, and reduced competitiveness.
Oramah emphasized that establishing direct weekly flights and cargo routes between cities like Lagos, Accra, Kingston, and Bridgetown could dramatically transform the trade landscape.
“We are leaving billions on the table,” he said. “Trade remains emotionally appealing but economically constrained if we do not create the hard infrastructure to back it.”
A Call to Action
Oramah proposed the formation of a dedicated Logistics Task Force under the Africa-Caribbean Business Council, with a 90-day deadline to present viable corridor proposals.
The Afreximbank chief pledged the institution’s support through its $2 billion Intra-African Trade Initiative, suggesting that portions could be allocated to a Corridor Development Fund.
His remarks triggered strong endorsements from panelists including regional logistics companies, maritime experts, and aviation authorities, many of whom committed to joining the proposed task force.
Several ministers from Caribbean nations, including Grenada and Saint Lucia, highlighted the opportunity for cargo-focused airports and deep-sea ports to act as hubs for this initiative, generating jobs, investment, and cross-regional growth.
Implications for Trade Sovereignty
The implications go beyond economics. Establishing direct Afro-Caribbean logistics links could mark a new era of trade sovereignty and interdependence, reducing reliance on former colonial routes and intermediaries.
“This is about economic independence,” said one logistics executive from Nigeria. “If we control the routes, we control the narrative.”
Next Steps
Afreximbank has committed to convening the first logistics task force meeting by October 2025. In the meantime, feasibility studies are expected to be commissioned, mapping air and sea trade flows, infrastructure gaps, and investment opportunities.
With ACTIF2025 now concluded, Prof. Oramah’s call has set a bold benchmark. The ball is now in the court of policymakers and investors to turn vision into vessels, and rhetoric into runways.
