AFRICA | Afreximbank Launches Pilot AI Hubs to Transform Africa and Caribbean into Global Tech Powers

CAIRO, Egypt – The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) today announced its sponsorship of groundbreaking pilot Artificial Intelligence (AI) hubs designed to transform Africa and the Caribbean into competitive forces in the global technology landscape.

The initiative, coordinated by the P.J. Patterson Institute for Africa-Caribbean Public Advocacy, has already launched at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, with plans to develop advanced AI ecosystems across both regions.

Strategic Vision for Digital Sovereignty

Dr. Gladstone Fluney Hutchinson, Distinguished Fellow and Principal Director of the African-Caribbean AI project at the P.J. Patterson Institute, is spearheading the transformative effort alongside collaborators from the University of the West Indies and global partners. The initiative envisions AI hubs as catalysts for industrial modernization, job creation, and equitable global economic participation.

Key stakeholders recently convened at the African Export-Import Bank's Annual Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, to advance the project. The high-level discussions included Dr. Hutchinson; Dr. Nicholas Kerr, political scientist at the University of Florida; His Excellency the Honorable P.J. Patterson, Statesman in Residence at the P.J. Patterson Institute for Africa-Caribbean Advocacy, University of the West Indies; and Dr. Rosalea Hamilton, CEO of the Institute of Law and Economics at the University of Technology, Jamaica.

“ Historic initiative backed by African Export-Import Bank aims to shift regions from raw material suppliers to AI innovation leaders  ”

"This represents a strategic leap toward digital sovereignty and economic emancipation for peoples of African descent," said former Nigerian President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a prominent supporter of the initiative. "Africa and the Caribbean must no longer be consumers at the mercy of global innovation—they must become co-creators."

Comprehensive Development Framework

The ambitious plan includes development of AI-enabled industries, training centers, semiconductor fabrication facilities, and robust data infrastructure. The strategy leverages Africa's mineral resources alongside the Caribbean's strategic logistics advantages to create a powerful economic alliance.

Speaking at the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings' high-level plenary on "Deepening the Policy Relevance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions in a Polarized World," former Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson delivered a clarion call for immediate deepening of Africa-Caribbean ties.

"As one people divided only by geography of the Atlantic Ocean, our collective interests are bound by our common challenges and aspirations," Patterson declared. "This is a time when we must move beyond resilience in the face of adversity to actively set our own goals: striving together to prosper together!"

The statesman-in-residence at the institute bearing his name has emphasized that the AI project represents a concrete manifestation of this vision: "The goal is to spearhead the development of generative artificial intelligence industries in these regions into localised, knowledge-intensive and value- and wealth-creating globally competitive industries."

The P.J. Patterson Institute for Africa-Caribbean Public Advocacy, established to deepen Pan-African collaboration, provides the intellectual foundation for coordinating this continental initiative.

Afreximbank's Strategic Commitment

This AI initiative aligns with Afreximbank's broader technology investments, including its flagship accelerator program launched in April 2025, which offers up to $250,000 in equity investment for African entrepreneurs developing innovative trade solutions.

The bank has also successfully expanded its Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to 16 African countries, using AI to transform cross-border payments and agricultural finance.

"Our support for this project marks a turning point in building a resilient, future-ready Africa-Caribbean economy," said an Afreximbank spokesperson.

"This represents leadership through innovation, creativity, and cooperation rather than resource exploitation."

Global Context and Competitive Positioning

The announcement comes as global financial institutions dramatically increase AI investments.

Bank of America recently allocated $4 billion—nearly a third of its total technology budget—toward AI and new tech initiatives in 2025, highlighting the strategic importance of artificial intelligence in modern economic competition.

Afreximbank has been pushing for AI-driven compliance systems to boost African trade, recognizing AI's ability to analyze large data volumes and detect anomalies that could revolutionize African financial institutions.

Implementation and Impact

By anchoring innovation in local talent and cross-border partnerships, the project promises a replicable model for inclusive technological development.

The initiative focuses on building semiconductor fabrication capabilities, establishing comprehensive training programs, and creating data infrastructure that bridges continental resources with Caribbean logistics expertise.

Patterson emphasized the urgency of the initiative: "We are building an edifice of technological innovation where we deploy our assets within the global economy, leverage our human capital and resource base under sovereign control to promote shared prosperity."

Looking Forward

The pilot AI hubs represent the first phase of a broader strategy to position Africa and the Caribbean as AI innovation centers rather than mere commodity suppliers. Success could establish templates for continental-scale technology initiatives and demonstrate that innovation leadership need not remain concentrated in traditional tech capitals.

With Afreximbank's financial backing and the intellectual leadership of the P.J. Patterson Institute, this initiative signals a fundamental shift toward technological self-determination for regions representing over 1.5 billion people globally.

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About Afreximbank: The African Export-Import Bank is a pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. Visit www.afreximbank.com.

About the P.J. Patterson Institute: Based at the University of the West Indies, the Institute coordinates public policy and advocacy fostering development relations between the Caribbean and Africa.

Media Contact: [Pauline Stone-Myrie]