PRIME MINISTER DR. TERRANCE DREW CALLS FOR REMOVAL OF VISA BARRIERS TO STRENGTHEN AFRI-CARIBBEAN TRADE AND INVESTMENT

St. George’s, Grenada, July 28, 2025 (SKNIS): Prime Minister of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, joined distinguished regional and African leaders on a Presidential Panel on “New World Order as an Opportunity for Strengthening Africa-Caribbean Trade, Investment, and Cultural Relations” held on Monday, July 28, 2025, at the Radisson Conference Centre in Grenada.

The high-level discussion formed part of the fourth AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF2025) and brought together Heads of Government from across the Caribbean and Africa, including Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre of Saint Lucia, Prime Minister Gaston A. Browne of Antigua and Barbuda, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali of Guyana, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerritt of Dominica, and Mr. Prudence Sebahizi, Minister of Trade & Industry of the Republic of Rwanda, representing President Paul Kagame.

The session was moderated by CNN Anchor Mrs. Zain Asher and opened with remarks from Dr. George Elombi, Incoming President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank.

During the engaging panel discussion, Prime Minister Drew made a compelling appeal for the elimination of visa barriers between Africa and the Caribbean, underscoring the immediate impact on trade and investment.

“Two investors are supposed to be here today to sign with us an investment in Saint Kitts and Nevis that is coming through the Afreximbank. And one of them could not be here because he needs a visa. That is directly already affecting how we do business,” stated Prime Minister Drew.

He further emphasised that visa requirements present a significant obstacle to deepening economic and cultural cooperation, even as Saint Kitts and Nevis offers visa-free access to several African countries, including Nigeria.

“We have been welcoming Nigerian medical students and diving students for years. Yet, for Kittitians and Nevisians to travel to Nigeria, a visa is still required. That is something we are currently discussing with high-level officials in Nigeria,” Prime Minister Drew added.

The panel reflected a shared commitment to redefining global alliances and unlocking new opportunities for collaboration between Africa and the Caribbean, particularly through greater mobility, reciprocal trade policies, and mutual investment frameworks.

ACTIF2025 continues to serve as a transformative platform for fostering strong and lasting ties between the two regions under the theme: “Resilience and Transformation: Enhancing Africa-Caribbean Economic Cooperation in an Era of Global Uncertainty.”

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