A collaborative pharmaceutical manufacturing project worth US$32 million is set to launch in Barbados, involving Nigeria, the island nation, and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). This effort seeks to boost local drug production and enhance medical supply connections across Africa and the Caribbean.
The development will create a facility dedicated to manufacturing intravenous (IV) fluids, with an initial yearly output of 12 million units. Plans also allow for future capacity increases.
Funding and Collaboration
Key participants include the governments of Nigeria and Barbados, Barbados Pharmaceutical Inc. (BPI), Nigerian producer AMA Medical Manufacturing, and Afreximbank. BPI and AMA finalized a memorandum of understanding, while AMA and Afreximbank agreed to a Project Preparation Facility (PPF) framework to prepare financing arrangements.
The financial plan will integrate project readiness funding, senior loans, operational capital, and risk management tools. Operations are scheduled to commence in 2029, pending feasibility reviews, funding approvals, regulatory validation, and construction completion.
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Strengthening Regional Ties
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley highlighted the project’s potential to reinforce economic stability and industrial partnerships between Africa and the Caribbean. Nigeria’s Secretary to the Government, Senator George Akume, stated the initiative supports Nigeria’s strategy to support deeper economic ties with Caribbean nations through industrial investments.
World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala praised the collaboration, calling it a model of trade-driven South-South cooperation and pharmaceutical supply chain diversification. She noted that the COVID-19 crisis revealed vulnerabilities in relying on a limited number of countries for critical medical supplies.
Execution and Oversight
AMA Holdings Chairman Abdullahi Musa Bello emphasized the investment would enable the Nigerian company to enter the Caribbean market, focusing on technical proficiency, reliable logistics, and financial viability. BPI’s Acting CEO Dr Cindi Lewis stressed the need to convert agreements into a fully operational production site.
The project follows existing trade links between the nations. AMA delivered its first IV fluid shipment to Barbados in March 2026, with future deliveries planned for Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, and St Lucia. Barbados also passed legislation in June 2026 to establish the Barbados Medical Products Authority, with implementation of its regulatory framework currently underway.
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