News

CWEIC had the privilege of hosting a roundtable discussion with the Secretary-General Elect of the Commonwealth, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, alongside our Strategic Partners. As she prepares to assume office in less than three weeks, her vision for the Commonwealth highlights its enduring role as a driver of trade, investment, and economic growth, particularly in an era of geopolitical shifts and global economic challenges.

Reflecting on the Commonwealth’s collective strength, Hon. Botchwey underscored the importance of leveraging the ‘Commonwealth Advantage’—the inherent ease of doing business among the 56 member nations, where trade costs are on average 21% lower due to shared language, legal frameworks, and administrative systems.

As she stated, “The Commonwealth’s Secret Weapon is its ability to foster trade and investment seamlessly, and we must harness it to its fullest potential.”

The discussion also focused on key areas such as free trade agreements, climate resilience, digital innovation, and youth entrepreneurship. Hon. Botchwey outlined her intention to initiate studies on Commonwealth-wide trade agreements, digital education, and regulatory frameworks to further enhance business opportunities across the member states.

The Commonwealth represents one-third of the world’s population and contributes over 14% to global GDP. With its vast potential and deep-rooted partnerships, CWEIC remains committed to working alongside the Secretary-General to drive sustainable economic development and unlock new opportunities for businesses within the Commonwealth.

Thank you for our Strategic Partners for attending and supporting the Commonwealth.

More pictures can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cweic/albums/72177720324395620/https://lnkd.in/esnQFtVT