During my time at the second Africa–CARICOM Summit, one clear realisation was how the depth of shared interests between Africa and the Caribbean is far greater than we often acknowledge.
Across both regions, there is a strong desire to look outward by exploring new solutions and forging fresh partnerships that reflect our evolving realities and priorities.
While we are aware that the ties between Africa and the Caribbean run deep, rooted in our shared ancestry and common experience of global marginalisation, for many years, we have mirrored each other in isolation.
We’ve been connected by history yet separated by distance and underdeveloped links. Despite our many similarities, the bridges between our regions remain few.
If we are to realise the full potential of Africa-Caribbean cooperation, we must take practical steps that bring our people closer together, unlock economic opportunities, and foster connectivity across our borders.
To build sustainable links between Africa and the Caribbean, we must look to the future, focusing on our children and their education. With over 60% of our combined population under the age of 25, this partnership is an imperative to harness the energy and innovation of the world’s youngest demographic for our mutual benefit.
Young people in both regions deserve access to world-class educational networks and the opportunity to experience other cultures without needing to leave their hemisphere.
Our regions are home to exceptional universities, and we must strengthen the connections between them. By investing in each other’s academic ecosystems, we can build a powerful model of South–South collaboration that equips the next generation to lead with confidence.
From an institutional standpoint, universities and research institutions in both regions face similar challenges and pursue shared goals. Joint academic networks could support student exchanges and collaborative research. These initiatives would not only help grow our universities but also deepen cultural understanding and foster innovation in much-needed areas including science and technology.
The more we develop these educational links, the more our nations will look to each other for solutions rather than relying solely on traditional relationships of the past, however important they remain. By fostering shared values and deepening institutional ties, we lay the groundwork for future diplomatic partnerships that will endure and evolve for generations.
While education secures our future, our economic power today is immense. Our combined markets represent over 1.5 billion people. It is no secret that almost half of the fastest-growing economies in 2024 worldwide were in Africa.
That scale alone should command global attention. But trade between Africa and the Caribbean remains minimal. This isn’t due to a lack of interest, but rather to structural gaps. How do we fix this? With trade missions, preferential agreements, and investment forums that connect entrepreneurs,
SMEs, and investors across both regions. Just one example is the recent waiver agreements signed by Antigua and Barbuda with Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda, which will make it easier for citizens to travel, collaborate, and build lasting ties across regions.
Despite the ambition and goodwill between Africa and the Caribbean, one of the most tangible barriers remains the lack of direct transportation links. Without reliable air and sea routes, even the most promising partnerships can stall before they begin. Simply put, this is a missed opportunity.
Improved connectivity would make it easier for businesses to collaborate, for students to study abroad, and for tourism (a sector of particular importance to Antigua and Barbuda) to flourish.
It would also help shift perceptions: from seeing each other as distant partners to recognising the immediacy of our shared interests. Whether through regional carriers or coordinated investment in transport, we must treat connectivity as a cornerstone of cooperation rather than an afterthought.
We have spoken of unity for decades. Now we must act on it. That means investing in infrastructure and recognising that our partnership is a necessity.
Africa and the Caribbean are not distant cousins. We are strategic allies with shared ambition. By focusing on trade, education, and connectivity, we can build a resilient and future-facing relationship.
By H.E. Theon Ali, Ambassador-designate of Antigua and Barbuda to Qatar
