Access Bank Plc has taken a significant step in fostering economic collaboration between Africa and the Caribbean, spotlighting its strategic role at the recent AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) 2025 in Grenada. The event, attended by political leaders, banking executives, and industry stakeholders, highlighted the bank’s push to strengthen cross-continental partnerships and unlock opportunities in sectors like tourism, agriculture, and renewable energy.
Prominent figures at the forum included former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo; Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell; St. Kitts & Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew; and Access Holdings Chairman Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede. Representatives from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)—including outgoing President Benedict Okey Oramah and incoming President George Elombi—also participated, underscoring institutional efforts to bridge the two regions.
Sunmbo Olatunji, CEO of Access Bank’s Caribbean Expansion division, emphasized the bank’s broader vision during a panel discussion titled “AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment: From Vision to Reality.” She described Access Bank’s ambition to act as a “bridge” facilitating financial connectivity and inclusive growth. “Through partnerships with Afreximbank and others, we aim to enable cross-border trade flows and investment opportunities that benefit both Africa and the Caribbean,” Olatunji stated, identifying digital trade and sustainable energy as key focus areas.
Aig-Imoukhuede’s participation in high-level dialogues reinforced the bank’s long-term strategy to establish sustainable partnerships in emerging markets. His engagements with regional leaders mirrored Access Holdings’ broader goals of driving economic integration, particularly as the bank expands its Caribbean footprint. This expansion, supported by Afreximbank, includes plans to introduce targeted financial solutions, enhance trade finance mechanisms, and build capacity in Caribbean markets.
ACTIF 2025 provided a platform for advancing discussions on trade facilitation and cultural exchange, building on existing momentum between Africa and the Caribbean. The forum’s outcomes align with broader initiatives, such as the African Union’s designation of the Caribbean as a “diaspora zone” in 2023, which seeks to deepen ties through shared heritage and economic interests.
By prioritizing collaboration over competition, Access Bank and its partners aim to address structural barriers to trade while capitalizing on mutual strengths. The Grenada summit marks a tangible step toward translating diplomatic and corporate commitments into actionable frameworks, with financial innovation and cross-continental investment poised to play pivotal roles in shaping the partnership’s future.
