News

CWEIC’s Deputy Chairman, Lord Swire, has provided insightful commentary on the significance of the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) for New Zealand in Newsroom, an independent New Zealand news and current affairs platform.

In this opinion piece, Lord Swire highlights how Prime Minister Christopher Luxon can lead New Zealand in championing Pacific interests at next month’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa. As the first Pacific Commonwealth summit since 2011, this gathering presents a unique opportunity for New Zealand to champion a market-led approach to development and advance key regional priorities. With the Commonwealth Business Forum—hosted by the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council—taking place alongside, this summit offers an unparalleled platform for engaging the private sector in driving trade, investment, and development across the Pacific. Key private sector opportunities include advancing access to finance and insurance, with a focus on sustainable, market-led growth.

Lord Swire comments, “At a time of flux in the Commonwealth and in the wider world, Luxon has an opportunity to shape one of the world’s largest international organisations in line with his vision for New Zealand and the wider Pacific region.” By promoting a vision that balances regional concerns like climate change and development with a broader push for private-sector-driven growth, Luxon can help the Commonwealth evolve in ways that align with both Pacific and global needs. His ability to harness these diplomatic and economic opportunities could leave a lasting mark on how the Commonwealth approaches development and regional partnerships for years to come.

Read the article here.