(BPRW) CENTER FOR GLOBAL AFRICA HOSTS HIGH-LEVEL FORUMS TO SPUR U.S.-AFRICA-CARIBBEAN BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Under the theme “Shaping the Future: Connecting Markets and Building Prosperity,” the conference will bring together regional participants, including government officials, global leaders from 10 countries, small business owners, corporate executives, investors, and academics. The goal: to strengthen U.S.-Africa-Caribbean economic ties, promote three-way commerce, and highlight Delaware and the Mid-Atlantic as hubs of international trade and investment.

“Delaware is not only America’s corporate capital—it is emerging as a strategic location for international shipping, global trade, and financial technology,” said Professor Ezrah Aharone, Founder and Chairman of the Center for Global Africa. “By aligning this year’s conference with the United Nations General Assembly, PAGTIC-DE 2025 will raise global awareness and connect U.S. businesses to transformative opportunities in Africa and the Caribbean.”

Highlights of the conference include interactive panels, policy discussions, and networking sessions that emphasize the role of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and diaspora-owned businesses in driving equitable growth.

Dr. Julius Garvey, Founder and Chairman of the Marcus Garvey Institute, underscored the historical significance: “Over 100 years ago my father, Marcus Garvey, created a foundation for global trade. This strategic gathering builds on that legacy to connect diaspora and global partners for shared prosperity.”

The conference also places Delaware’s assets—particularly the Port of Wilmington, the top North American entry point for fresh fruit imports and home to the largest dockside cold storage facility—at the center of global trade conversations. “This conference and the work of the CGA place Delaware and our port workers at the forefront of building new global trade relationships,” said William Ashe, President of International Longshoremen’s Union Local 1694.

Confirmed speakers and delegates include H.E. Binalf Andualem Ashenef, Ambassador of Ethiopia to the U.S.; Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs; Hon. Amara Kallon, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs; and Ambassador Charles Ray (ret.), among others.

Sports and business entrepreneur Dusty Baker, a Major League Baseball legend and member of CGA’s Advisory Council, also emphasized the importance of connecting global markets: “As both a sportsman and businessperson, I see enormous value in U.S. businesses linking with Africa and the Caribbean. I look forward to helping bridge our common interests through CGA’s sports and commercial diplomacy initiatives.”

According to a January 2022 Pew Research study, the number of immigrants from Africa living in the United States has more than tripled from 2000 to 2019; a growing share of them come to the U.S. with at least a bachelor’s degree. The study also states that Black immigrants, including those from the Caribbean and South America, are more likely than other immigrants to become naturalized citizens.

PAGTIC-DE 2025 highlights a growing recognition that diaspora communities are powerful engines of trade, innovation, and prosperity. As noted by development experts, shifting from aid to investment is key to reducing reliance on foreign assistance while strengthening U.S. global partnerships and local prosperity.

To learn more or register for PAGTIC-DE 2025, visit: www.pagtic.com