Empire Nights: Africa, the Caribbean and Canada: Unlocking Growth Across the New Trade Frontier Featuring FSRA CEO Dexter John

As global supply chains realign and competition intensifies, Africa and the Caribbean are emerging as critical partners for countries seeking growth, diversification, and access to rapidly expanding markets. Canada’s strengths in finance, natural resources, infrastructure, technology, and education position it to play a more ambitious role as an investor, exporter, and innovation partner across both regions. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech in Davos has set the tone for Canadians to begin this important work.

On February 26, join The Empire Club of Canada for a timely conversation on the next chapter of Africa–Caribbean–Canada trade and investment. The program featured a keynote address from Dexter John, CEO of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (Ontario), followed by a moderated discussion led by Christopher Nabeta, Director, OEM Sales and Strategy Canada at TD Auto Finance, and Empire Club Board Member, with Nimal Amitirigala, President, Grace Foods Canada, The Honourable Arielle Kayabaga, Member of Parliament for London West and Deputy House Leader in the House of Commons, and Nickolas Steele, Former Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Business of Grenada, to examine on-the-ground trade realities, investment flows, and the policy decisions that will determine whether this moment translates into shared prosperity across Africa, the Caribbean and Canada.

Join us in examining the next chapter of Africa–Caribbean–Canada trade: where the most promising opportunities lie, how to navigate risk and regulatory complexity, and what it will take to move from ad hoc deals to strategic, long term partnerships. From mobilizing capital, to building people-to-people and institutional ties, the discussion will define practical pathways to turn ambition into financially viable projects that convert potential into prosperity.