Consistent with signals that have been emanating from the region that there are potential economic benefits to be derived from creating closer business to business ties between Africa and the Caribbean, the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) is about to further probe that notion by leading a team of regional businesses and Business Support Organizations (BSO’s) and Investment Agencies on a visit to Africa.
If the likely outcomes of what is regarded here in the Caribbean as a historic undertaking, can hardly be determined at this stage, the June 5-15 mission, undertaking which, we are told, will target Ghana and Nigeria, points to a decision that may have finally been made that the countries of the Caribbean are not prepared to ‘die wondering’ about the potential benefits to be derived from closer trade and wider business ties to be derived from a region with which it has strong historicties.
Stabroek Business understands that the team put together, for what is being seen as a landmark undertaking will include more than fifteen (15) regional Business Support Organizations and Invest-ment Promotion Agencies, though what will doubtless be of real significance are the agreements reached during the engagements in Africa and how quickly and effectively these can be transformed into concrete business ties between the two regions. That said, a determination of the extent to which the two regions have travelled in terms of their inclination for more meaningful ties can only be determined by the actual outcomes of the visit.
The stated sectorial interests that will be probed across the table during the visit will reportedly include Renewable Energy, Agriculture and Communication Techno-logy, areas that are far removed from the ‘sugar and slaves’ economic ‘interests’ that had once been the underpinning of relations between the two regions. While the rhetoric surrounding the visit describes the undertaking as “ground-breaking,” and asserts that it “aims to deepen cooperation, boost trade and investment, and establish partnerships in the renewable energy, agriculture and AgTech, ICT and Fintech sectors,” watchers in the region will be aware of the fact that where serious undertakings are concerned the Carib-bean has acquired a well-earned reputation for the actualization of declared intentions.
The delegation will make the first stop of its two-week mission in Ghana and information made public on the overall exercise indicates that its two primary missions are, first, to seek to create “meaningful business matchmaking” between private companies there and suitable companies in Guyana.
