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For immediate release: Commonwealth Trade and Investment Summit brings together political and business leaders

On 7th and 8th April, the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) was delighted to bring together senior political and business leaders for the annual Commonwealth Trade and Investment Summit (CTIS). Hosted at London’s iconic Mansion House, this year’s CTIS provided a world-class opportunity for networking, and a platform for the discussion of prescient global issues. Over two days, CWEIC welcomed 400 delegates from more than 40 countries, reflecting the Commonwealth’s rising significance as a global trade and investment network.

In his opening remarks, CWEIC Chairman Lord Marland highlighted the opportunity that the “total rearrangement” of the global trading system presents for the Commonwealth, calling recent turbulence a “game-changer of the highest order”. Lord Marland’s sentiments were echoed by a number of other speakers, who argued that the Commonwealth now provides the ideal mechanism for diversification of trading relationships, at a time when many of the world’s largest consumer markets are increasingly closed. 

In her first external address since assuming office, Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey confirmed that “trade will be a central priority for the Commonwealth under my leadership”, emphasising her desire to put trade and investment “at the heart of the Commonwealth’s renewal.” With intra-Commonwealth trade set to reach $1 trillion by 2026, CTIS underscored the Commonwealth’s growing role as a major economic powerhouse.

Other key speakers included Hon. Dr Jumoke Oduwole (Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Nigeria), Hon. Lee Kinyanjui (Cabinet Secretary for Investment, Trade, and Industry, Kenya), HE Hussain Ali Mwinyi (President of Zanzibar), HE Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah (Governor of Enugu State), HE Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Governor of Lagos State), Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare (Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, Ghana) and Rt Hon Alderman Alistair King (Lord Mayor of the City of London).

CTIS 2025 also featured representatives from major Commonwealth businesses, including Lloyd’s, Open Capital, Crown Agents Bank, and Equity Bank Kenya, alongside representatives from major public investment organisations, such as British International Investment and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The success of CTIS 2025 was made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, whose commitment to Commonwealth collaboration is deeply valued. CTIS was sponsored by Zenith Bank, as Anchor Partner, and the Government of Cameroon, as Supporter.

Amidst an uncertain global landscape, CTIS demonstrated the importance of the Commonwealth as a platform for trade diversification and mutual exchange. It also provided a valuable opportunity to address shared challenges, with a wide variety of voices contributing to the conversation – whether on the role of AI in the economy of the future, the global energy transition, and the need to unlock investment in growth markets.

Full videos of the main stage sessions can be found on CWEIC’s YouTube channel.  

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For media inquiries, please contact:
Anna van Harwegen den Breems, anna@cweic.org

About CWEIC:

The Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) is a commercial, not-for-profit membership organisation with an official mandate from the Commonwealth Heads of Government to facilitate trade and investment. With a network of over 140 Strategic Partners from both the public and private sectors, CWEIC helps build vital relationships that drive economic growth and development. CWEIC organises numerous flagship events, providing a key platform for collaboration between business leaders and governments from the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries.