To expand Central Africa's market to Caribbean: Aquarian Consult urges Cameroonian businesses to register for Abuja investment summit.

Scheduled for March 23 to 28, 2026, the summit is being positioned as the critical bridge between Central Africa and the Caribbean. 

According to the firm, the participation of Cameroon, regarded as a central pivot within the CEMAC zone and a gateway to the sub-region, could unlock access to a combined $40 trillion (about 24,000 trillion FCFA) market.

Described by the organisers, Aquarian Consult, as a nation of ‘Grand Ambitions’, Cameroon’s bilingual profile is highlighted as a unique advantage in fostering partnerships between African and Caribbean States. 

AACIS’26 will convene policymakers, financiers and private sector leaders in Nigeria’s capital to structure trade and investment corridors across the Atlantic. 

Organisers say the summit aims to connect businesses to cross-border opportunities, financing tools and structured investment platforms designed to facilitate expansion beyond domestic markets.

Deal rooms, sector summits on agenda

The 2026 edition, organisers say, will feature an Investor Deal Room, where screened projects from sectors such as infrastructure, energy and technology will be presented to sovereign wealth funds and private equity firms. Organisers state that the format is designed to connect project sponsors directly with capital providers.

Two sector-focused segments are also planned. The Agriculture and Food Security sessions will run on March 23 and 24, while the Afri-Caribbean Health Summit is scheduled for March 26. 

Discussions are expected to centre on agro-processing partnerships and pharmaceutical collaboration aimed at reducing import dependence.

Aviation and logistics will form another pillar of the programme, with talks around establishing an ‘Aviation Corridor’ to ease the movement of goods and passengers between Africa and the Caribbean without reliance on indirect routes.

Organisers state that the summit is open to a range of participants, from technology start-ups seeking venture capital to government institutions pursuing multilateral partnerships.

Backed by financial, regulatory institutions

According to the organisers, AACIS’26 is supported by several financial and regulatory bodies expected to provide instruments to support international expansion. 

Among them is African Export-Import Bank, Afreximbank, which is set to offer access to trade finance solutions, export credit guarantees and its MANSA digital platform for due diligence processes linked to cross-border transactions. 

The platform is designed to simplify compliance requirements for companies engaging in international trade.

The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, NIPC, will also be present, offering facilitation services including Pioneer Status tax incentives and accelerated business registration procedures for companies seeking to establish operations in Nigeria as an entry point into wider markets.

The Caribbean Development Bank, CDB, is expected to provide technical assistance and support for infrastructure and sustainable energy initiatives for firms exploring Caribbean expansion. 

In addition, the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, Secretariat will outline how businesses can leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area protocols to move goods through Nigeria towards Atlantic destinations.

Registration details

Cameroonian delegates are encouraged to register early to secure participation in matchmaking sessions and structured investment meetings. 

Registration details are available through Aquarian Consult’s official channels, including its website, www.aquarianconsult.com/AACIS  and the AACIS’26 Secretariat contact line, +2348099666613 (calls and WhatsApp). 

About Aquarian Consult

Headquartered in Abuja, Aquarian Consult Limited has operated for over 17 years in business advisory and cross-border facilitation. 

Led by Aisha Maina, a member of Nigeria’s Presidential Economic Coordination Council, the firm focuses on enterprise strategy, human capital development and trade corridor structuring.

In 2025, the firm funded and led a 120-person delegation to St. Kitts and Nevis, marking the first landing of a Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, in the Caribbean nation. 

The initiative formed part of broader efforts to strengthen transatlantic commercial ties. The firm has also facilitated investments including a reported $40 million Afreximbank-backed deep-water port project in the Caribbean.

Through AACIS and related programmes, Aquarian Consult works across sectors including agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare, renewable energy, financial services and the creative economy. 

Its services include transaction advisory, public-private partnership structuring, trade corridor development and investor matchmaking. All this, in a bid to deepen and accelerate sustainable economic integration between Africa and global markets.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3712 of Monday February 23, 2026