- Regional focus needed on transportation linkages between Caribbean, African continent
All regional countries must prioritise transport connectivity between the Caribbean and Africa to boost commerce and tourism.
Prime Minister Mia Mottley delivered this forceful message at the signing of agreements between the government, Afreximbank, and Kensington Oval Management Inc. (KOMI) at Ilaro Court on Saturday.
After signing a US$25 million (BDS$50 million) loan with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to upgrade and preserve Kensington Oval, Mottley said strengthening relations with Africa will boost the region’s economy.
The world will require Africa’s demographic dividend to sustain economic activity and the benefits of that activity for 21st-century sustainable development goals. She emphasised the Caribbean’s unique position to collaborate with Africa, treat the Caribbean as its hub in the Americas, and foster a relationship based on belonging, trade, and people movement, not just investment.
She suggested improving links between the two economic zones to lessen reliance on the north.
We believe Africa and the Gulf states, which have the lowest cruise tourism penetration globally, have a growing demographic dividend market. Africans face challenges obtaining transit visas for travel through the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, the USA, and Canada.
“Unless we create a direct link between the two, we are constraining the volume of legitimate cruise and long-stay tourists.”
