A new chapter in Africa-Caribbean relations will be in the spotlight at the 49th meeting of Caribbean Community (Caricom) heads of government in Montego Bay, Jamaica, next week.

Three leading institutions — NTT Global Destinations, JN Bank, and Afreximbank (African Export-Import Bank) — have officially announced their participation in the event, titled From Shared Roots to a Shared Future: Africa and the Caribbean Unite, scheduled for Tuesday, July 8, 2025.

The event, being held as an official side engagement during the heads of government gathering, will feature high-level panel discussions, creative industry showcases, and grass roots networking to bridge economic, cultural, and diaspora ties between Africa and the Caribbean.

“We are proud to bridge Africa and the Caribbean through tourism, creativity, and enterprise,” a news release from the organisers quotes Elizabeth Agboola, CEO of NTT Global Destinations. “This is more than a meeting, it’s a movement — a movement to reconnect our people, amplify our voices, and build a future driven by culture, commerce, and collaboration.”

NTT Global Destinations, a Nigeria-based tourism and cultural strategy company connecting Africa to the world, is the driving force behind the event and is actively working to support Caricom in the integration and coordination of African and Caribbean countries across the tourism, trade, and creative sectors. As the pioneer of the first-ever direct flight between Nigeria and Jamaica the company continues to break new ground in bridging both regions.

JN Bank, one of Jamaica’s premier financial institutions, is a co-sponsor of the event. It has a long-standing commitment to empowering Caribbean entrepreneurship, supporting economic inclusion, and promoting opportunities for the Diaspora to invest in the region.

“This meeting marks a significant opportunity to translate our shared cultural heritage into economic value,” the release quotes Earl Jarrett, CEO of the Jamaica National Group, the parent company of JN Bank. “We’re proud to play a role in advancing trade, dialogue and assisting with building a strategic bridge between Africa and the Caribbean.”

Afreximbank, the pan-African multilateral financial institution, brings to the table its expansive trade finance expertise and continental networks. The bank’s participation aims to unlock pathways for deeper trade integration, joint investments, and SME-scale development across both regions.

“The time has come to institutionalise our relationship,” stated Professor Benedict Oramah, president and chairman of the board of Afreximbank. “We are here not just to celebrate our shared ancestry but to deepen the frameworks that turn history into prosperity and legacy into enterprise.”

Among the event’s core highlights will be:

• The Side Meeting Conference (8:30 am – 11:30 am): A series of three high-level panel discussions exploring trade and finance, the creative industries, and tourism as tools for regional cooperation and economic diplomacy. (Open to registered delegates only — professionals and business leaders)

• The African Village Corner (12:00 midday – 7:00 pm): A vibrant outdoor cultural experience featuring Culinary Lane — food from 5 African regions and artisan and trade booths, a fusion cooking show (Jamaica and West Africa flavour) and live music.

Confirmed speakers include representatives from Afreximbank, JN Bank, and creative and tourism sector leaders from across Africa and the Caribbean.