The Bahamas’ Minister for Grand Bahama, Ginger Moxie, has announced an ambitious plan to establish a permanent Afro-Caribbean Marketplace on Grand Bahama Island, positioning it as a gateway for trade and cultural exchange between Africa and the Caribbean.
Speaking at the 4th Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) in Algiers, Moxie said she is leading a full Bahamian delegation to the event. “We also have Senator the Honourable Barry Griffin, who is also the chairman of the Bahamas Trade Commission. We also have the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce represented here, so we have a 40-plus member delegation,” she said.
She highlighted the importance of building on momentum from 2024, when The Bahamas hosted the 31st Afreximbank Annual Meetings. “That was, I think, an eye opener for so many of our Caribbean people, to recognize the opportunities that exist,” Moxie noted.
The centerpiece of her vision is the Afro-Caribbean Marketplace, which she described as a permanent hub for trade, tourism, and culture. “One of them is the development of an Afro-Caribbean marketplace that’s going to take place on my island, Grand Bahama. It’s considered the gateway to the Caribbean. We have a major transshipment terminal there, and so goods would come through our island for redistribution to the region,” she said.
According to Moxie, the marketplace will feature permanent pavilions representing “all 55 African countries, all Caribbean countries, and the 16 isles of The Bahamas.” She said it will showcase “the arts, the craft, the music, the dance, the everything,” emphasizing that the products on display will be authentic and tied to their countries of origin.
The marketplace is being developed with the support of Afreximbank and will also serve as a logistics hub. “All the goods are going to come from Africa, we’re going to have warehousing capabilities. Some of them will be utilized in the marketplace, but then some will be redirected to Caribbean countries,” Moxie explained. She stressed that the project will make it easier for businesses across Africa and the Caribbean to access new markets.
Comparing the vision to existing trade shows, she added: “It’s like Canex on steroids. But it’s more than Canex, it’s IATF. Because when people come there, yes, they’re going to purchase some trinkets… but with innovation, you’re able to push a button and purchase from that country right there for distribution from our logistics point directly through their doors.”
Moxie also underscored the importance of Caribbean participation. She pointed to recent initiatives in Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Grenada, where leaders have partnered with Afreximbank on cultural and trade projects. “We are grateful for the work that has been done by Afreximbank. We are very excited about the creative industry with Canex, and also we’re working closely with the Intra-African Trade Fair Commission to ensure that payment systems are in place,” she said.
Encouraging wider regional involvement, she said: “I definitely want all of them to be a part of the marketplace because we’re talking about your presence in the marketplace where you can actually promote your country from that Grand Bahama Island that has all of these tourists coming in anyway, so they will be able to get a taste of your country.”
Moxie closed with a message of unity. “We are one people separated by oceans that were used to destroy us, really, and now we have the opportunity to use those same oceans for prosperity… Collaboration is my favorite word.”
The Afro-Caribbean Marketplace is expected to be completed in phases, with permanent structures in place by 2028, coinciding with major expansions in Grand Bahama’s tourism sector.
