Latest content: Economic development

Government officials from 10 Commonwealth countries in western and southern Africa have agreed to implement a set of policy initiatives that will promote youth entrepreneurship as an antidote to rising levels of youth unemployment.

Between 7-11 November, Lucas Rutherford attended the 37th Annual Technical Meeting of the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA), held in Bridgetown, Barbados. Read his blog.

The policies chosen by governments for managing revenues from mining and petroleum resources will help to determine their ability to achieve sustainable development, writes Dr Daniel Wilde, economic adviser at the Commonwealth Secretariat.

A new paper published by the Commonwealth explores the tax and revenue management policies which countries should follow to reap rewards from their mineral and petroleum resources.

The progress of some least developed countries (LDCs) is behind expectation, finds a mid-term review of an action plan to “graduate” poorest countries to developing status

Dozens of member states exhibited at the World Travel Market in London this week, aiming to present their countries as dream holiday destinations.

Commonwealth countries must unite on tackling climate change to protect their tourism industries, Secretary-General Patricia Scotland urged ministers and senior officials this week

The Global Forum now has 137 members on equal footing and is the premier international body for ensuring the implementation of the internationally agreed standards of transparency and exchange of information in the tax area.

A free trade agreement between the UK and India would increase trade between the countries by 25 per cent, new research undertaken by the Commonwealth shows.

The Commonwealth Secretariat is helping the Swaziland government draft legislation and design its fiscal regime to enhance revenues, support local industry and boost regulation in the sector.

Sri Lanka has been experiencing a declining trend in exports for the last three years. What’s more, the country’s export basket continues to concentrate on a limited number of products and to limited markets.

Toronto, Canada 1984: Commonwealth finance ministers warned of the dangers posed by rising interest rates to highly indebted developing countries at a major summit.

On 17 October 2016, a report by the Natural Resource Governance Institute, entitled ‘Preventing Tax Base Erosion in Africa: a Regional Study of Transfer Pricing Challenges in the Mining Sector’ received its London launch at Marlborough House.

Botswana has launched a new scheme to boost its economy. The new ‘Aid for Trade’ strategy outlines ways to diversify exports and drive the nation’s economic growth.

Both the president and the prime minister of Sri Lanka took part in the launch of the Colombo Declaration to ensure better health across the Commonwealth.

Central bank governors have been hearing about the risks Brexit and de-risking poses for Commonwealth countries. They were told that the jury was still out on how Britain's exit from the European Union would affect trade, remittances, aid and investment in the Commonwealth.

Countries significantly impacted by extreme weather should have a repayment holiday on government loans and bonds, a Commonwealth report has recommended.

New research published today by the Commonwealth Secretariat calls for “fundamental changes” to the way the world’s oceans, seas and coastal areas are managed.

We are ready to support countries through tough post-Brexit trade negotiations, Secretary-General Patricia Scotland will tell Commonwealth finance ministers next week.

Recent developments in the global trading landscape have the potential to adversely affect the least developed countries and undermine the aspirations of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), as discussed at a panel session organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat at the World Trade Organization’s Public Forum in Geneva this week. ‘Inclusive Trade’ was the theme of this year’s conference – echoing the Commonwealth Secretariat’s approach promoting trade equality.

Finance ministers, central bank governors and the Secretary-General will be in the American capital this week to respond to the biggest financial challenges facing Commonwealth countries.

Vulnerable small island states and developing countries stand to gain access to billions of dollars of climate finance with the aid of a new Commonwealth initiative.