KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Young Entrepreneurs Association of Jamaica (YEA) has announced the launch of ACTION (Afro Caribbean Trade and Investment Opportunities Network), a regional platform that connects businesses, investors and strategic partners with new trade and investment opportunities across Africa and the Caribbean.

Developed in partnership with the Pan African Leadership Institute (PALI), Catema Trade Facilitation of Ghana, the African Prosperity Network (APN) and the Global Africa Trade Advisory Chamber, the network builds stronger commercial relationships, expands market opportunities and supports greater collaboration between businesses across both regions.

The announcement comes at a pivotal time as governments, regional institutions and the private sector continue investing in entrepreneurship, export development and South- South trade.
Despite deep historical and cultural ties, commercial engagement between Africa and the Caribbean remains well below its potential, presenting significant opportunities to expand trade, attract investment and strengthen regional value chains.

Jamaica reflects that opportunity.

According to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), the country imported US$1.8698 billion in goods during the January to March 2026 quarter, while earning US$376.6 million from exports, meaning imports were approximately five times the value of exports during the period. These figures reinforce the importance of strengthening Jamaica’s export base while creating greater access to regional and international markets. Source: STATIN International Merchandise Trade Bulletin, January to March 2026.

YEA President Cordell Williams said ACTION builds on the significant investments already made by governments, development partners and business support organisations to strengthen entrepreneurship across the region.

“Across the Caribbean, governments, development finance institutions and business support organisations have invested significantly in helping entrepreneurs become business ready, investment ready and export ready. In Jamaica, organisations such as HEART/NSTA Trust, the Jamaica Business Development Corporation, the Development Bank of Jamaica, EXIM Bank, JAMPRO and other public sector partners have helped thousands of entrepreneurs strengthen their capacity to compete”.

“As businesses become increasingly ready, there is an equally important opportunity to strengthen the pathways that connect them with customers, buyers, investors and strategic partners beyond our borders. Exporting is about more than moving products across borders. It is about identifying demand, connecting businesses with opportunities and organising entrepreneurs to meet that demand.Readiness prepares businesses. Collaboration builds capacity. Markets create prosperity. ACTION connects all three,” Williams said.

ACTION places MSMEs at the centre of the network, recognising that while many possess the quality, innovation and expertise to compete internationally, limited scale often restricts access to larger commercial opportunities.

The network supports both manufacturers and service providers, while placing particular emphasis on expanding service exports and other high value sectors where Caribbean businesses enjoy a competitive advantage. By pooling capacities and capabilities, MSMEs can form strategic consortia, strengthen regional value chains and compete collectively for opportunities that would otherwise be beyond the reach of individual enterprises.

The network is built around three strategic priorities:

● Building readiness through export readiness, export quality standards, market intelligence, international business protocols and business cultural alignment.

● Connecting capital by linking businesses with private equity firms, venture capital funds, impact investors, financial institutions, grant programmes and blended financing opportunities.

● Creating market opportunities through business matchmaking, buyer introductions, trade missions, strategic partnerships and commercial linkages that expand trade and investment opportunities across Africa and the Caribbean.

Williams noted that successful exporting depends on more than a quality product or service.

“Businesses must understand international standards, buyer expectations and how business is conducted across different markets and cultures. Those capabilities build confidence, strengthen relationships and create long-term commercial success,” Williams said.

Williams also highlighted the important role larger enterprises can continue to play in strengthening regional supply chains and expanding opportunities for MSMEs.

“Many of our larger companies have successfully developed regional and international markets over the years. ACTION is intended to complement those efforts by strengthening the supply chains around them and preparing more MSMEs to become export ready suppliers, manufacturers and service providers. As more MSMEs are integrated into regional value chains, larger enterprises benefit from stronger supplier networks, while smaller businesses gain access to larger commercial opportunities. The result is stronger regional value chains, greater export capacity and more competitive Afro-Caribbean businesses,” Williams added.

YEA President Cordell Williams with Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko
Executive Chairman and Founder
Africa Prosperity Network during a meeting in Accra Ghana

The network brings together organisations with complementary strengths to support businesses throughout their export and investment journey.

The Pan African Leadership Institute (PALI) will provide leadership development, business cultural training, executive networking and relationship building, equipping entrepreneurs with the knowledge and relationships needed to successfully engage across African and Caribbean markets.

Catema Trade Facilitation, headquartered in Ghana, brings practical market entry expertise to the network, having already supported the successful expansion of several Trinidad and Tobago brands into West Africa. Catema will provide trade facilitation support, market intelligence, regulatory guidance, buyer introductions and commercial matchmaking.

Africa Prosperity Network is a not-for-profit organisation registered under the laws of the Republic of Ghana. APN provides a platform for leaders, particularly in business and politics across Africa, to collaborate to achieve sustainable prosperity across the continent. The organisation’s flagship initiative, the Africa Prosperity Dialogues, serves as an annual forum for continental decision-makers to address critical economic development challenges and opportunities. Through ACTION, APN will provide strategic stakeholder engagement and promote the network across its extensive community of business leaders, institutions and strategic partners throughout Africa.

The Global Africa Trade Advisory Chamber facilitates broader commercial linkages and investment opportunities, helping participating businesses establish new relationships across Africa and beyond.

Beyond supporting participating businesses, ACTION is also building a broad ecosystem of partners, including private equity firms, venture capital funds, export promotion agencies, chambers of commerce, logistics providers, manufacturers, business development organisations, international buyers and members of the African and Caribbean Diaspora who share a commitment to strengthening trade and investment between the two regions.

Williams said the response from local, regional and international stakeholders has been extremely encouraging, with several organisations already expressing interest in collaborating with the network.

“The response has reinforced our belief that the time is right for a collaborative platform that connects businesses, investors and strategic partners around a shared vision of expanding Afro-Caribbean trade and investment. We look forward to formalising additional partnerships as we move toward the official launch,” Williams said.

As preparations continue for the official launch on Thursday, July 30, YEA is working with local, regional and international organisations involved in trade facilitation, export development, logistics, investment promotion, finance and business support to finalise partnership arrangements that will further strengthen the network and expand the opportunities available to participating businesses.

Williams emphasised that ACTION is intended to complement and strengthen the important work already being undertaken by governments, regional institutions, development partners and the private sector by providing a collaborative platform that connects entrepreneurial readiness with commercial opportunity.

The Young Entrepreneurs Association of Jamaica will officially open the call for cohort 1 participants during the launch of the Afro Caribbean Trade and Investment Opportunities Network (ACTION) on July 30.

Entrepreneurs, other business associations, manufacturers, service providers, investors and strategic partners from across Africa and the Caribbean will be invited to join the network as it works to expand trade, strengthen regional value chains and unlock new trade and investment opportunities across both regions.