{"id":13304,"date":"2025-07-30T10:08:01","date_gmt":"2025-07-30T14:08:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/?p=13304"},"modified":"2025-07-30T10:08:01","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T14:08:01","slug":"global-africa-commission-proposed-as-actif2025-opens-in-grenada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/30\/global-africa-commission-proposed-as-actif2025-opens-in-grenada\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Africa Commission Proposed As ACTIF2025 Opens In Grenada"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The fourth AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF2025)\u00a0 opened Monday in St. George\u2019s under the theme\u00a0<i>\u201cResilience and Transformation: Enhancing Africa Caribbean Economic Cooperation in an Era of Global Uncertainty.\u201d\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n<p>In a passionate keynote address,\u00a0<b>Prof. Benedict Oramah, outgoing\u00a0<\/b><b>President and Chairman of the Board\u00a0 of Directors of Afreximbank,\u00a0<\/b>declared the region\u2019s readiness to shift from slogans to systems, unveiling a\u00a0 slate of tangible milestones that signal the deepening of Africa-Caribbean economic and cultural\u00a0 integration.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn under four years, we\u2019ve ratified the Partnership Agreement in 11 CARICOM countries, providing the\u00a0 Bank a solid legal foundation to operate, support, and invest in their economies,\u201d said Oramah.\u00a0 This, he acknowledged, represents a \u201csovereign declaration, that the CARICOM States see in Africa, not\u00a0 just its past, but also its future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>These bold initiatives, shared by President Oramah during his address, demonstrate Afreximbank\u2019s\u00a0 commitment to transforming Afri-Caribbean cooperation from aspiration into action:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Caribbean EXIM Bank:\u00a0<\/b>Feasibility studies are underway for a regional EXIM Bank cocreated with\u00a0 the CARICOM Secretariat to unlock industrial development and trade.<\/li>\n<li><b>$250M Growth, Resilience, and Sustainability Fund (GRSF):\u00a0<\/b>A new blended finance mechanism to\u00a0 support climate adaptation and development. Afreximbank\u2019s Fund for Export Development in\u00a0 Africa (FEDA) will manage the fund, while concessional financing will be raised jointly with the\u00a0 CARICOM Development Fund.<\/li>\n<li><b>CAPSS Launch (Caribbean Payment &amp; Settlement System):\u00a0<\/b>Modelled after Africa\u2019s Pan African\u00a0 Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), this digital platform will allow real-time payments across\u00a0 the Caribbean in local currencies, eliminating costly conversions and enabling the upcoming CAPSS\u00a0 Card.<\/li>\n<li><b>Creative &amp; Cultural Investment:\u00a0<\/b>$24 million has been committed for a film production and training\u00a0 hub in the OECS through CANEX, while other investments have enabled designers and chefs from\u00a0 Guyana, Trinidad, Jamaica, and Barbados to feature globally.<\/li>\n<li><b>Artificial Intelligence Hub:\u00a0<\/b>A new AI and generative tech centre is being launched in partnership\u00a0 with the P.J. Patterson Institute at the University of the West Indies to place Afro-Caribbean talent\u00a0 at the centre of global innovation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The ACTIF2025 also serves as President Oramah\u2019s final address at the Forum, as he prepares to hand over\u00a0 leadership to Dr. George Elombi, Afreximbank\u2019s long-serving Executive Vice President nominated as\u00a0 incoming President by shareholders at the Bank\u2019s 32nd\u00a0Annual Meeting in Abuja in June 2025.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt this critical moment in our collective history, I have no shred of doubt that he is the right person to lead\u00a0 us in the next phase of the Bank\u2019s journey. I am convinced that he will give the Bank\u2019s work in this region\u00a0 a renewed impetus,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n<p>Looking beyond the Forum, President Oramah urged the establishment of a sovereign Global Africa\u00a0 Commission to drive forward the long-term integration of Africa and the Caribbean. He proposed that the\u00a0 Commission be jointly supported by Afreximbank, the CARICOM Secretariat, and the African Union, and\u00a0 tasked with advancing the trade, cultural, education, and creative agenda of the growing pan-African\u00a0 alliance.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat we have done so far is prove the concept, we now need to institutionalise it,\u201d Oramah said.\u00a0 \u201cWe should consider creating a Commission that becomes fully responsible for delivering on the Africa Caribbean and broader Global Africa initiative\u2026 This move will give more focus to the initiative, reduce the\u00a0 administrative burden on Afreximbank and create an environment for innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In closing, President Oramah declared \u201cIn America, America is first. In Europe, Europe is first. In China,\u00a0 China is first. We are the only ones who put ourselves last,\u201d noting that it is time that Africa changes this\u00a0 posture.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile,\u00a0<b>Hon. Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada\u00a0<\/b>praised the vision and leadership of\u00a0 President Benedict Oramah, describing his presidency as a turning point in the Africa-Caribbean relations.<\/p>\n<p>Recognising the strategy, integrity and relentless drive employed, PM Mitchell, stated that President\u00a0 Oramah carved out a space for \u2018our regions to trade, collaborate, and thrive\u2019. \u201cIn the annals of history, you\u00a0 will go down as a pioneer for African people everywhere,\u201d the Caribbean leader declared.<\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister Mitchell announced a recommendation by the region\u2019s leaders to confer the region\u2019s\u00a0 highest honour to President Oramah; the Order of the Caribbean Community.<\/p>\n<p>Building on Oramah\u2019s keynote call to institutionalise the Global Africa Initiative through the creation of a\u00a0 permanent Commission, Prime Minister Mitchell voiced full support.<\/p>\n<p>His message was punctuated by a deeply personal interaction with a young volunteer who asked why\u00a0 Grenada chose to host ACTIF2025; a question he said cut to the heart of the Forum\u2019s purpose.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s about money. It\u2019s about trade. It\u2019s about investment\u2026 our very survival, prosperity and dignity\u00a0 depends on the economic decisions we make today,\u201d he stated. \u201cTo that young man, I say: our political\u00a0 will to support Global Africa is unwavering. We are not starting from scratch. We are starting from strength.\u00a0 And we will not leave ACTIF2025 with another communiqu\u00e9, we will leave here with a commitment to act,\u00a0 to build together, to trade together, to succeed together and rise together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In a sobering, yet empowering close, he added \u201cno one is going to save Global Africa but Global Africa\u00a0 itself.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>More than a dozen sitting and former Heads of State, and Government representatives from Africa and\u00a0 the Caribbean are attending ACTIF2025. Among them are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados<\/li>\n<li>Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica<\/li>\n<li>Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis<\/li>\n<li>Hon. Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia<\/li>\n<li>H.E. Kassim Majaliwa, Prime Minister of Tanzania (representing President Samia Suluhu)\u00a0\u00a0\u2022\u00a0H.E. Prudence Sebahizi, Minister of Trade and Industry, Rwanda (representing President Paul\u00a0 Kagame)<\/li>\n<li>The Most Hon. PJ Patterson, Former Prime Minister of Jamaica<\/li>\n<li>H.E Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria<\/li>\n<li>H.E Mahamadou Issoufou, Former President, Republic of Niger<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Meanwhile, five transformative deals totaling over US$290 million were signed on Day 1 of ACTIF2025,\u00a0 showcasing Afreximbank\u2019s deepening investment in trade-enabling infrastructure and economic\u00a0 development across the Caribbean. Among the signings was a US$50 million Heads of<\/p>\n<p>Terms with the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis for an Education Construction and\u00a0Rehabilitation Climate-Linked Facility, and a US$40 million public-private partnership with Gemini\u00a0 Integrated Commodities Trading Company Ltd. to develop a modern commercial port in Saint Kitts.\u00a0 In The Bahamas, two landmark transactions were formalised: a US$100 million Receivables Discounting\u00a0 Facility for the Bahamas Striping Group of Companies to rehabilitate over 200 miles of road infrastructure,\u00a0 and a US$40 million facility with Cat Island Infrastructure Company Ltd. for critical roadworks. Rounding\u00a0 out the signings was a US$61.25 million agreement with Speedbird House Ltd. to finance a 150-room\u00a0 Homewood Suites by Hilton in Bridgetown, Barbados\u2014under Afreximbank\u2019s tourism-linked financing\u00a0 initiative, CONTOUR.<\/p>\n<p>ACTIF2025 continues through 30 July, with panel discussions, business matchmaking sessions, cultural\u00a0 showcases, and deal signings that reflect the Forum\u2019s commitment to moving from rhetoric to results.\u00a0 More than 1,700 people registered to attend ACTIF2025, reflecting the highest level of interest recorded\u00a0 across all four editions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>The fourth AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF2025)\u00a0 opened Monday in St. George\u2019s under the theme\u00a0\u201cResilience and Transformation: Enhancing Africa Caribbean Economic Cooperation in an Era of Global Uncertainty.\u201d\u00a0 In a passionate keynote address,\u00a0Prof. Benedict <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/30\/global-africa-commission-proposed-as-actif2025-opens-in-grenada\/\" title=\"Global Africa Commission Proposed As ACTIF2025 Opens In Grenada\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13305,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2,39],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-13304","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-government-news","8":"category-local-news"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ACTIF2025-1014x420-1.jpg?fit=1014%2C420&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ACTIF2025-1014x420-1.jpg?fit=1014%2C420&ssl=1",1014,420,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ACTIF2025-1014x420-1.jpg",1014,420,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ACTIF2025-1014x420-1.jpg",1014,420,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ACTIF2025-1014x420-1.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ACTIF2025-1014x420-1.jpg?fit=300%2C124&ssl=1",300,124,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ACTIF2025-1014x420-1.jpg?fit=1014%2C420&ssl=1",1014,420,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ACTIF2025-1014x420-1.jpg?fit=1014%2C420&ssl=1",1014,420,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ACTIF2025-1014x420-1.jpg?fit=1014%2C420&ssl=1",1014,420,true],"mh-magazine-slider":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ACTIF2025-1014x420-1.jpg?resize=1014%2C420&ssl=1",1014,420,true],"mh-magazine-content":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ACTIF2025-1014x420-1.jpg?resize=678%2C381&ssl=1",678,381,true],"mh-magazine-large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ACTIF2025-1014x420-1.jpg?resize=678%2C420&ssl=1",678,420,true],"mh-magazine-medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ACTIF2025-1014x420-1.jpg?resize=326%2C245&ssl=1",326,245,true],"mh-magazine-small":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/drealfmgrenada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ACTIF2025-1014x420-1.jpg?resize=80%2C60&ssl=1",80,60,true]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"adminrfm","author_link":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/author\/adminrfm\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/category\/news\/government-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Government News<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/category\/news\/local-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Local News<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"The fourth AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF2025)\u00a0 opened Monday in St. George\u2019s under the theme\u00a0\u201cResilience and Transformation: Enhancing Africa Caribbean Economic Cooperation in an Era of Global Uncertainty.\u201d\u00a0 In a passionate keynote address,\u00a0Prof. Benedict 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