Aisha Maina Advances Africa-Caribbean Trade with New Port Project in St. Kitts and Nevis

Aisha Maina, Managing Director of Aquarian Consult and founder of Gemini Integrated Commodities, has spearheaded a transformative week of engagements from July 28 to August 3, 2025, to strengthen Africa-Caribbean trade through a USD 40 million deep-water port project in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis. The initiative, supported by Afreximbank and the St. Kitts and Nevis government, aims to anchor a 10-square-kilometer special economic zone for agro-processing, light assembly, and bonded warehousing, with feasibility studies starting in August 2025 and financial close targeted for Q1 2026. The project is expected to create 600 direct jobs and attract USD 300 million in private investment, positioning St. Kitts as a logistics hub linking 19 African and 12 Caribbean Commonwealth nations.

Key Engagements

1. Grenada: AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF 2025) – On July 28, Maina co-signed a USD 40 million Letter of Interest with Afreximbank and Honourable Samal Duggins, St. Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, for a Panamax-capable port and economic zone. Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew witnessed the signing. Maina emphasized, “Africa and the Caribbean need assets, not just aspirations. With this port, we move from promise to throughput.” Duggins added, “Facility after facility, deal after deal, we are delivering transformation.”

2. Jamaica: Caribbean Investment Forum – On July 30, Maina announced that feasibility and environmental studies for the port begin in August, enabling a seven-day Lagos-to-Basseterre shipping corridor that bypasses European detours. She stressed, “If the private sector does not take charge, we will remain where we have been. Retreat or defeat are not options.”

3. Trinidad: Trans-Atlantis Symposium – On August 3, Maina delivered the keynote at the Trans-Atlantis Trade and Investment Symposium in Port of Spain, hosted by the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago. She linked port logistics and economic zones to youth employment, food security, and diversified exports, reinforcing the need for actionable Africa-Caribbean cooperation.

Project Snapshot

• Initial Finance: USD 40 million

• Berth Capacity: One Panamax berth, expandable to two

• Construction Jobs: 600 direct positions

• Follow-on Capital: USD 300 million projected private investment

• Studies Launch: August 2025

• Financial Close: Q1 2026

• First Container: Q4 2028

Regional and Global Impact

• Shorter Transit Times: Direct sailings reduce freight costs by eliminating European detours.

• Value-Addition Hub: The economic zone enables processing of African raw materials closer to North American markets.

• Commonwealth Relevance: St. Kitts, with fewer than 60,000 residents, becomes a maritime link for Commonwealth members.

• Private-Capital Leadership: Gemini Integrated Commodities and Afreximbank co-invest, prioritizing execution over policy dependency.

Background

The project builds on Maina’s earlier efforts, including the Aquarian Consult Afri-Caribbean Investment Summit (AACIS) in Abuja in March 2025 and a June 2025 Air Peace-chartered flight carrying 120 Nigerian entrepreneurs and policymakers to St. Kitts and Nevis, the largest such mission in the island’s history. These steps, culminating in the Grenada signing, Jamaica confirmation, and Trinidad keynote, form a cohesive infrastructure roadmap for Africa-Caribbean trade.

About Aquarian Consult and Gemini Integrated Commodities

Aquarian Consult, a Nigeria-based advisory firm, specializes in trade facilitation, human-capital development, and infrastructure. Through Gemini Integrated Commodities, it executes projects connecting African markets to global value chains, with a focus on Africa-Caribbean integration. Maina’s leadership has empowered over 4,000 entrepreneurs and facilitated multimillion-dollar South-South trade deals.

Source: African Publicity