TORONTO, September 29, 2026 – The 2026 Caribbean Canadian Investment Summit & Trade Forum, or CCISTF, was held in North York from September 25 to 26. Representatives from government, diplomatic, investment and business organizations in Canada and the Caribbean attended the event, exchanging views on trade and investment, market expansion and cross-border cooperation.
This year’s forum was held under the theme “Bridging Markets: Unlocking Opportunities, Building Sustainable Prosperity.” Topics covered several sectors, including trade and investment, tourism, agriculture, technology, infrastructure, entrepreneurship and the creative industries.
CCTVmedium learned during on-site interviews at the forum on September 25 that two of the major topics discussed were how Caribbean businesses can enter the Canadian and North American markets, and how Canadian companies can identify investment opportunities in the Caribbean.
One cross-border business panel was moderated by Erica Henry-Jackman of Invest Brampton. Panelists included Shullette Cox, president of Jamaica Promotions Corporation, or JAMPRO; Denise McClure of Invest Brampton; Gerry Hopkin, Consul General of Grenada in Toronto; and Barry Griffin, chair of the Bahamas Trade Commission.
Speakers discussed common challenges businesses face when entering a new market, including finding local partners, obtaining market information, understanding investment procedures and arranging cross-border financing. Invest Brampton representatives said that as the international trade environment changes, some Canadian companies are looking for markets beyond the United States, and the Caribbean has become one of the regions drawing business interest.
The role of the Caribbean diaspora in trade and investment was also highlighted. Canada and the Caribbean have long maintained people-to-people and business ties, and many companies have already built connections through local communities. During the forum, participants exchanged views on how to use existing networks to support investment and market cooperation.
Representatives from the Caribbean also introduced key sectors seeking investment in the region. Energy and renewable energy, agriculture and agri-food processing, tourism, housing, infrastructure and technology were mentioned in several discussions.
During the forum, Gerry Hopkin, Consul General of Grenada in Toronto, spoke with CCTVmedium. He said Grenada currently has investment projects and development needs in areas including energy and renewable energy, agriculture, technology, tourism, housing, infrastructure and health care.
Speaking about Chinese Canadian businesses and investors, Hopkin said Grenada has maintained long-standing ties with China and welcomes Chinese Canadian businesses to learn more about the local market. Companies interested in investment can contact the Consulate General of Grenada in Toronto for information on local projects and business opportunities.
The forum concluded on September 26. Over two days, the event included keynote speeches, industry discussions and business networking, providing face-to-face communication opportunities for businesses, investment organizations and related groups from Canada and the Caribbean.
（LJI by Yuanyuan）
