Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has proposed the creation of an African-Caribbean Free Trade Area, a move aimed at deepening economic ties between the two regions and unlocking new opportunities for trade, investment and logistics cooperation across the Atlantic.
Speaking during a joint sitting of Jamaica’s Parliament attended by President John Dramani Mahama, Holness said stronger economic integration between Africa and the Caribbean could help diversify trade flows and reduce dependence on traditional markets.
At the center of the proposal is a vision to link the regions through their expanding port infrastructure. Holness noted that Jamaica has transformed its ports into a world-class logistics hub, while Ghana is undertaking similar investments along its coastline, positioning both countries as strategic gateways to their respective regions.
Under the proposal, Ghana would serve as the principal entry point for Caribbean businesses seeking access to African markets, while Jamaica would become a logistics and distribution hub for Ghanaian exports destined for the Caribbean.
The initiative comes as African countries deepen economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area, the world’s largest free-trade bloc by membership, while Caribbean nations seek to expand commercial partnerships beyond North America and Europe.
For Jamaica, whose economy is valued at about $32 billion and relies heavily on tourism and services, closer ties with Africa could create new export markets for products such as rum, Blue Mountain coffee, sugar, alumina and other agro-processed goods.
At the same time, Jamaican businesses could gain greater access to West African commodities, energy resources and manufactured products, potentially reducing supply-chain costs and broadening investment opportunities.
The proposal also aligns with President Mahama’s efforts to strengthen economic links between Africa and the Caribbean by leveraging frameworks such as the AfCFTA and the Caribbean Community, or CARICOM, to build more resilient transatlantic supply chains.
While trade between Africa and the Caribbean remains relatively small, proponents argue that stronger maritime connectivity, harmonized trade rules and expanded investment cooperation could unlock significant commercial potential between the two regions.
Holness’s proposal signals a growing push by leaders on both sides of the Atlantic to translate longstanding historical and cultural ties into deeper economic integration, as developing economies seek new growth engines amid rising global trade fragmentation.
