By Brian Ngugi
The Bahamas on Friday pushed for stronger commercial cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean, saying direct flights and student exchanges could help unlock economic opportunities between the regions. Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister, Chester Cooper, told a trade and investment forum that Nassau was in talks with several African carriers on establishing direct links to the Caribbean. “Direct connectivity is imperative if we want to do more business,” Cooper said, in a statement seen by The Standard, while addressing government and business delegates at the gathering co-hosted by the African Export-Import Bank.
Cooper said student mobility could flow both ways, with Caribbean universities helping address Africa’s skills needs. Technical know-how sharing in manufacturing was another area ripe for partnership, he added. The Bahamas has already signed memorandums of understanding with pan-African lender Afreximbank to boost financing availability. Cooper urged African billionaires to purchase property and invest savings in Caribbean stock markets and bonds. “We are open for business,” he stressed. With their combined weight, Cooper said the two regions could also advocate for fairer global financial systems that now marginalize developing states.