The 31st Annual Meeting of the African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank), held in Nassau, Bahamas, from June 12 to 15, attracted over 4,000 participants. Presidents and prime ministers of a number of countries, as well as senior government officials, corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, heads of development institutions, and non-governmental organizations attended the conference.
The three-day event was held in the Caribbean for the first time at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center on West Bay Street, under the theme: “Owning Our Destiny: Economic Prosperity on the Platform of Global Africa.” This year, the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF2024) was fully incorporated within the Afreximbank Annual Meetings.
The opening ceremony on Wednesday, June 12, included a presidential plenary and high-level panel sessions. Seminars continued over the next two days that were dedicated to the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum and were marked by colorful events to celebrate the shared AfriCaribbean culture, as well as the essence of the two regions’ shared socio-economic aspirations.
Underscoring the economic commitment made to The Bahamas, Prime Minister Philip E. Davis said: “The $30 million capitalization of the Bahamas Development Bank by Afrexim Bank will create new opportunities for Bahamians, support small businesses, drive innovation, and foster sustainable development.”
The Prime Minister also highlighted the signing of a $1.86 million Project Preparation Facility agreement between Afreximbank and the Ministry for Grand Bahama.
“This marks a significant step towards the development of the Afro-Caribbean Marketplace and Logistics Center on Grand Bahama Island, set to become a vibrant hub for tourism, commerce, and trade between African countries, The Bahamas, and the Caribbean,” Davis said
He noted that the Afro-Caribbean Marketplace and Logistics Center “will position Grand Bahama as a beacon of international trade.”
“This transformative project will revitalize the International Bazaar, boost economic growth, empower entrepreneurs, and strengthen cultural ties across continents, fostering mutual exchanges in culture, education, and investment,” the prime minister explained.
Prominent American movie star Viola Davis, who was appointed in September of 2023 by U.S. President Joe Biden as a member of the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement that advises Washington on deepening ties with African communities, also participated in the meetings.
In April of 2024, Viola Davis and her husband, Julius Tennon, joined forces with best-selling author and publisher Lavaille Lavette to launch JVL Media, a new publishing house seeking to champion under-represented voices in the book world.
In addition, Chinelo Oramah, spouse of Professor Benedict Oramah, a Nigerian economist who is currently President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, made two donations of $50,000 each to the Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel and the Salvation Army in The Bahamas.