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In an interview with Newsroom’s Sharon Brettkelly, Lord Jonathan Marland, chair of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council and Co-Chair of the Commonwealth Business Forum, made a compelling call for a Commonwealth-wide free trade agreement, warning that without decisive action, the Commonwealth could lose its relevance on the global stage. At the Commonwealth Business Forum taking place ahead of CHOGM in Samoa, Marland described the Commonwealth’s current structure as “too passive” and stressed that it needs tangible outcomes to maintain its significance.

Reflecting on the combined economic power of the 56 Commonwealth nations, with a GDP surpassing NZ$13 trillion, Marland argued that a collective trade agreement could be transformative, particularly for young people, who make up 60% of the Commonwealth’s population. He encouraged leaders to capitalise on the Commonwealth’s strong business connections, emphasising that an initial agreement among key nations like New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, the UK, Canada, Rwanda, and Botswana could serve as a foundation, allowing other countries to join progressively.

In the interview, Marland shared insights from his speech at the Commonwealth Enterprise and Business Forum, where he noted the enthusiastic turnout from leaders, stakeholders, and investors, which he described as a testament to the growing appetite for trade within the Commonwealth. He encouraged Samoa’s leadership to use its role as CHOGM host to advocate for this trade vision, while acknowledging that achieving this agreement across such a diverse group of nations would take time and commitment from political leaders. Marland closed by emphasising that a well-defined trade network would create significant opportunities across the Commonwealth, from small business growth to investments in essential areas like climate resilience and infrastructure.

Read the full article here: https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/10/24/calls-for-free-trade-deal-between-commonwealth-asleep-on-its-watch/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1729706360-1