Latest content: Economic development

Intra-Commonwealth trade and productive greenfield investment is expected to reach US$1.6 trillion by 2020, in spite of the global trade slowdown caused by the 2008 financial crisis.

The role of the Commonwealth is a positive influence for strengthening trade links across boundaries and building prosperity in which all can share, said Secretary-General Patricia Scotland.

In November 2017, Edmund Paul Kalekyezi, the National Trade Adviser to Guyana, presented a paper discussing why the country’s international trade treaties have not always brought about the desired results.

It is well known that many small states struggle to acquire the finance needed to support their development goals.  The Commonwealth Secretariat has recently been exploring the potential of diaspora investment to support development.

Kiritimati is the largest atoll in the island group, and the largest atoll in the world, located 3,301 kilometres north east across the Pacific Ocean from the Gilbert Islands, the main island group. From Tarawa it can only be reached via Fiji, with only one flight connection available a week.

The three-day workshop enhanced participants’ understanding of the use of analytical tools in assessing international trade dynamics. The knowledge acquired from the workshop will assist their involvement in trade policy analysis and in determining foreign trade positions and strategies, especially regarding preferential trade agreements.  This will also be crucial for the development and implementation of effective and evidence-based trade policies and strategies.

Staged in partnership with the OECS and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the workshop was held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines from 14 -16 November 2017.

The CARICOM Secretariat convened a consultation to take stock of implementation among member states of the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and identify specific assistance required.

Elections observers have set out a range of recommendations for strengthening the democratic processes in The Bahamas, Lesotho and Tonga in three new reports.

The Hub and Spokes Programme provides trade experts to national ministries and regional trade organisations to enhance trade capacity in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of states.

Blog by Katherine Kennedy, Head of Climate Change, at the second day of the World Sustainable Development Summit in Delhi.

Experts in international environmental ocean law met at the Commonwealth headquarters last week to discuss environmental damages liability in relation to seabed mining and mineral exploitation.

Jamaica is setting the stage for private sector investment in support of low carbon, climate resilient growth after signing its second readiness Grant Agreement with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) at the Jamaica House in Kingston. 

A project to support sustainable fashion across the Commonwealth and ensure designers and producers are supported has been launched.

Is there merit to an aid system focused on vulnerability? What problems could arise with the Caribbean Development Bank's proposal for the Caribbean? Travis Mitchell, Head of Economic Policy and Small States invites your thoughts.

The government of Guyana is set to implement new laws which will enable it to bolster its economy, tackle poverty and meet crucial sustainable development targets.

Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Josephine Ojiambo has concluded her trip to the WTO Ministers Conference (MC11) by saying ‘trade is the lifeblood for many of our members’.

The Commonwealth Secretariat and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will join forces at the Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland spoke of the importance of the Commonwealth’s proposed Blue Charter when she met with UN Special Envoy on Oceans Peter Thomson at Marlborough House.

Deputy Secretary-General Josephine Ojiambo delivered compelling insights into the Commonwealth’s work on e-commerce to business leaders, policy makers and students at the International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) Global Debate, entitled Moving Forward on Digital Trade.

The Commonwealth Secretariat hosted the launch of UNCTAD’s The Least Developed Countries Report 2017: Transformational Energy Access yesterday at Marlborough House, London.

Some of the Commonwealth’s poorest members are set to receive additional support related to their transition as they graduate from the UN’s Least Developed Countries (LDC) list of countries.

Ambassadors of Commonwealth countries in Geneva say the Secretariat’s Small States Office gives them a voice on the world stage. 

Racheal Kemigisha is a trade adviser working with the Hub and Spokes programme based in Zambia at the Common Market for Eastern Africa, East African Community (COMESA). Rachael outlines the lessons learnt from negotiations, taking a look at the Tripartite Free Trade Area Agreement.

An expert group of international lawyers specialising in oceans law met at Marlborough House to discuss key legal issues relating to seabed mining in international waters, a frontier industry attracting interest as a result of the increase in global demand for metals.