Calls for a stronger intra- African, Caribbean and Pacific cooperation as summit kicks off

"In Togo where I come from, we don't have good weather to grow tea or coffee but cocoa does so well. Likewise in Kenya, coffee and tea does well but cocoa doesn't. I would therefore like to see an opportunity where I can export my cocoa to Kenya and have my chocolate manufactured here as opposed to exporting cocoa to the west. That way we create value addition, employment opportunities and we make the best out of the ACP partnership," said Agbokou, who runs a chocolate manufacturing company in Togo.

Among the presidents in attendance were Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Felix Tshisekedi of DR Congo, Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica and Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados. The summit comes at a favorable time for the ACP as it prepares to finalize its post-Cotonou negotiations. The Cotonou agreement was a treaty between the then 15 members of the European Union and the ACP in June 2000 in Cotonou, Benin's largest city, by 78 ACP countries excepting Cuba.

Otiato Opali contributed to this story.