Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon. Shirley Botchwey's speech at the CHOGM and and Business Leaders Breakfast Meeting at Jumby Bay Island, Antigua and Barbuda on 4 November 2026.
Let me begin by thanking once again our wonderful hosts. Antigua and Barbuda has shown us the best of Caribbean warmth and hospitality this week and we will always remember it.
We meet this morning to engage concretely on how to fund bankable projects in Commonwealth countries, including those 28 now on our Investment Platform, and to hear announcements by leaders and partners that are critical for advancing our development and climate ambitions.
Yesterday, we heard excellent proposals for driving up intra-Commonwealth trade to 2 trillion United States dollars by 2030. Adding value to raw materials in our developing countries was one of the key factors identified. Since this has been a perennial ambition, there must be a lot of noise distorting the channels between our governments and investors. There are many examples I could raise.
Right across the Commonwealth, there are fantastic opportunities to invest: from energy, infrastructure, and digital connectivity to sustainable agriculture and the blue economy.
The point is unless we take a new approach to the investment relationship, we shall continue to see a huge deficit in the flow of investments to the majority of our countries.
As Commonwealth Secretariat, we have worked with our national authorities to produce investment-ready project proposals. The success of our debut at the Commonwealth Capital connect during the Reuters Investment London 2026, has now been followed by the establishment of the new Commonwealth Investment Platform, with a pipeline of bankable projects with a combined value of over 52 billion dollars, many in the renewable energy and climate sectors.
You will find on your tables QR codes that will take you to the platform.
But, I am sure that it is not just a question of project preparation. I am sure there are issues such as how risk is calculated, market size etc. and policy environment, where the private sector needs to stand up. And as I asked in my one-minute remark at the Investment Summit yesterday, with a market of 2.7 billion people, how many Commonwealth businesses lead globally? With our enormous natural and human resources, how much wealth has been available to shape our national fortunes?
Part of the answer lies in the traditional notion of the mission of business and the state. By now it must be clear that the old division of labour between governments and business cannot deliver for the people, or for the bottom line of business. We need a new partnership that delivers for everyone, including Commonwealth businesses and investors. Because when business succeeds, national wealth should expand.
So, let me conclude by urging everyone, leaders and CEOs, to join in grand partnership, built on our common goals and strategies for resilience building and shared prosperity.
Let us, as governments, financial institutions, private investors and philanthropists, work together to develop investable projects that promote growth and prosperity across the Commonwealth.
To our governments: tell us where you need investment.
To our businesses and investors: bring your capital and expertise.
To our development finance and climate institutions: help us bridge the financing gaps. And to our philanthropic partners: support innovation and back early-stage solutions.
I pledge that the Commonwealth Secretariat will keep forging connections and helping turn ambition into action.
