CAIRO/Egypt: The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean following a high-level roadshow held in Nassau, The Bahamas, aimed at expanding trade, investment, and financial cooperation with the island nation.
Speaking during the event, Mr. Kanayo Awani Ihejirika of Afreximbank highlighted the bank’s growing footprint in the Caribbean, noting that within less than three years of operations in the CARICOM region, the institution has facilitated approximately $140 million in infrastructure financing through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements and provided an additional $30 million to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in The Bahamas.
The roadshow, held under the theme, “Investing in Progress Through the Implementation of the Afreximbank Mandate in The Bahamas,” brought together government officials, business leaders, private sector stakeholders and financial institutions to explore new avenues for collaboration and shared economic growth. The initiative forms part of Afreximbank’s broader strategy to deepen commercial and investment relations between Africa and the Caribbean under the Global Africa agenda.
The event followed the approval by Afreximbank’s Board of Directors of a financing facility of up to $5 billion for the Caribbean region, including The Bahamas, a move widely seen as a major boost to regional development and cross-continental economic integration.
Officiating at the event, the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Philip Davis, underscored the importance of ensuring that economic growth translates into wider opportunities for citizens. He said access to capital through institutions such as Afreximbank remains critical to helping more Bahamians establish businesses, create jobs, and participate meaningfully in national development.
Davis also stressed the importance of international cooperation at a time of global economic uncertainty, noting that partnerships capable of unlocking investment and fostering resilience are increasingly essential for sustainable growth.
Afreximbank used the roadshow to showcase its financing, advisory and trade facilitation solutions available to businesses and institutions in The Bahamas, while also strengthening institutional partnerships across key sectors of the economy. According to Ihejirika, the bank’s investments in infrastructure and SMEs reflect its mandate to promote sustainable development, enhance economic resilience and create opportunities for businesses and communities throughout the country.
Other prominent participants at the event included Michael B. Halkitis, Ginger M. Moxey, Mr. Atario Mitchell, President of Bahamas Striping Group of Companies, and Mr. Kino Simmons, Managing Director of CAT Island Development Company. The gathering provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss practical pathways for leveraging Afreximbank’s resources to accelerate economic development and regional prosperity.
