Nigeria and Barbados are partnering to establish a $32 million intravenous (IV) fluids manufacturing plant in Barbados, with production expected to begin in 2029. The facility will initially produce 12 million units annually and is expected to strengthen pharmaceutical supply chains and healthcare security across Africa and the Caribbean.
The project involves Nigerian pharmaceutical manufacturer AMA Medical Manufacturing, Barbados Pharmaceutical Inc. (BPI) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). It was highlighted at the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, as part of efforts to turn longstanding diplomatic relations between the two regions into industrial investments.
Under the proposed arrangement, AMA Medical Manufacturing will contribute its pharmaceutical production expertise, while BPI will support the development of manufacturing capacity in Barbados. The facility is expected to serve Caribbean and international markets, with plans to expand into other pharmaceutical products subject to technical, commercial and regulatory assessments.
Two preliminary agreements are supporting the initiative: a memorandum of understanding between AMA and BPI, and a project preparation facility term sheet between AMA and Afreximbank. The bank is developing a financing framework involving project preparation support, senior debt, working capital and risk-bearing instruments.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said the partnership reflects Nigeria’s commitment to expanding economic cooperation with Caribbean countries. He added that it would create opportunities for Nigerian manufacturers to access new markets while promoting technology transfer, healthcare production and employment.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley described the investment as an important step towards greater economic independence and healthcare security for African and Caribbean countries. She said the partnership demonstrated that a country’s size should not limit its industrial ambitions and highlighted the shared history between both regions.
World Trade Organisation Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the risks of concentrating essential medical production in a few countries.
She described the project as an example of how trade and investment could diversify pharmaceutical manufacturing, strengthen supply chains and create jobs. Afreximbank’s Senior Executive Vice-President, Denys Denya, said the facility would build on the bank’s growing economic engagement with the Caribbean.
