Nigerian entrepreneur Aisha Maina has secured a landmark $40 million investment backed by Afreximbank to build a deep-water port in St Kitts, setting the stage for a new Africa Caribbean trade corridor.
The agreement was formalized during the Afri-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum in Grenada and marks one of the most ambitious Africa led infrastructure investments in the Caribbean to date.
Maina, who is Managing Director of Aquarian Consult and founder of Gemini Integrated Commodities, is also spearheading a multi-country trade mission across Grenada, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at deepening commercial ties in agribusiness, manufacturing, and professional services.
A New Gateway for African Trade
The St Kitts project includes a Panamax-class deep-water port and a 10 km² special economic zone for agro-processing and light industrial activity. Feasibility studies begin this August, with financial close targeted for Q1 2026. The development is projected to generate over 600 construction jobs, unlock an additional $300 million in private investment, and slash shipping times between West Africa and the Caribbean by eliminating costly European detours.
“Africa and the Caribbean need assets, not just aspirations,” Maina said during the signing. “This port is the physical backbone of a trade bridge long overdue.”
High-Level Engagements Across the Region
In Jamaica, Maina confirmed the project timeline at the Caribbean Investment Forum, outlining a seven-day Lagos-to-Basseterre shipping corridor. “If private sector does not take charge of the process, we will remain where we have been,” she told delegates.
In Trinidad, she delivered the keynote address at the Trans-Atlantis Trade and Investment Symposium, linking infrastructure development to broader issues like youth employment, food security, and inclusive exports.
Repositioning the Caribbean in Global Trade
With a population under 60,000, St Kitts & Nevis is poised to become a strategic logistics hub, linking 19 African and 12 Caribbean Commonwealth countries. The port will offer end-to-end customs visibility, bonded warehousing, and value-added processing for African exports headed to North America.
The investment follows a wave of growing Africa Caribbean ties, sparked in part by the Afri-Caribbean Investment Summit in Abuja (March) and a historic Air Peace charter that flew over 120 Nigerian entrepreneurs to St Kitts in June.
About Aisha Maina & Aquarian Consult
Aisha Maina leads Aquarian Consult, a Nigerian advisory and investment firm focused on trade facilitation, human capital, and infrastructure. Through its affiliate Gemini Integrated Commodities, the firm specializes in designing assets that connect African markets to global value chains with a strong focus on Africa Caribbean integration.
