The 2026 edition of the Afro Caribbean Investment Summit(ACIS) will focus on unlocking trade and private sector partnerships across a combined Africa Caribbean and Americas market estimated at US$40 trillion, according to organisers speaking ahead of the event in Abuja.
The summit, widely known as ACIS, is scheduled to take place from March 23 to 28, 2026, and is expected to bring together policymakers, investors, development financiers and corporate leaders seeking to deepen economic ties between the two regions. Organisers say the initiative is designed to move beyond diplomatic symbolism and drive structured commercial engagement between Africa and the Caribbean.
Serumun Ubwa, Chief of Staff at Aquarian Consult Ltd, briefed journalists in Abuja on the objectives of the gathering, describing it as a platform to catalyse a new Nigeria Caribbean trade corridor and strengthen South South economic cooperation. According to him, the summit will emphasise practical deal making, cross border capital mobilisation and long term institutional partnerships.
The US$40 trillion figure referenced by organisers reflects the broader economic value of Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas combined, positioning the summit as an entry point into a vast consumer and investment ecosystem. Africa alone is home to more than 1.3 billion people and is projected to see significant urbanisation and middle class expansion over the next two decades. The Caribbean, though smaller in population terms, offers strategic access to the Americas and plays an outsized role in tourism, financial services and maritime trade.
ACIS 2026 is expected to focus on sectors such as energy, agriculture, infrastructure, maritime logistics, fintech and creative industries. These sectors are viewed as natural bridges between African and Caribbean economies, given shared cultural ties and complementary resource bases. Organisers argue that structured collaboration could unlock value chains spanning food exports, renewable energy deployment, digital payments and diaspora driven investment flows.
The Nigeria Caribbean trade corridor initiative is expected to feature prominently at the summit. Nigeria, as Africa’s largest economy by GDP and one of its most populous countries, is being positioned as a gateway for Caribbean investors seeking continental scale. Conversely, Caribbean states could serve as strategic hubs for African firms seeking entry into North and South American markets.
Trade between Africa and the Caribbean remains relatively modest compared to each region’s trade with Europe, Asia or North America. Analysts have long pointed to logistical bottlenecks, limited direct shipping routes and weak financial connectivity as barriers. ACIS organisers say one of the summit’s goals is to address these structural gaps through policy alignment, investment guarantees and private sector led solutions.
The event is also expected to explore blended finance models and sovereign investment partnerships aimed at reducing risk perception for cross regional projects. With global capital increasingly seeking diversification amid geopolitical uncertainty, proponents argue that an Africa Caribbean axis could attract patient capital focused on infrastructure, climate resilience and sustainable growth.
Diplomatic momentum between African and Caribbean states has been building in recent years through multilateral platforms and diaspora engagement. ACIS 2026 aims to convert that political goodwill into measurable economic outcomes. Organisers say memoranda of understanding, joint venture announcements and sector specific working groups are anticipated outcomes of the March gathering.
As global trade patterns shift and emerging markets seek stronger South South alliances, the summit represents a strategic attempt to formalise economic corridors that have historically been underdeveloped. Whether the ambitious $40 trillion narrative translates into tangible capital flows will depend on execution, regulatory clarity and investor confidence.
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