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A blog by Kim Kampel, Trade Negotiations and Emerging Trade Issues Adviser, Commonwealth Small States Office
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Blog: Building digital trade confidence where it matters most
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In Malawi, agriculture underpins the livelihoods of the majority of the population and forms the backbone of the national economy. Estimates indicate that over 80 percent of Malawians are dependent in some way on agriculture; ensuring the sector’s equitable and sustainable growth is therefore critical for the country’s economic growth and continued progress for communities and families.
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Malawi agriculture and trade officials prepare for WTO agriculture negotiations
This paper supplements the Commonwealth Model Mining Feasibility Study Guidelines by providing the conceptual underpinnings and governance frameworks required for their consistent interpretation and use.
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Understanding Mining Feasibility Studies
These model guidelines set out how governments can use feasibility studies to ensure that mining projects are responsibly planned and sustainably managed, and provide community benefits and investor confidence.
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Commonwealth Model Mining Feasibility Study Guidelines
This report provides a comprehensive assessment of trade-related regulatory frameworks – covering both conventional and digital domains – across seven Indo-Pacific economies: Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Fiji and Samoa. The analysis focuses on identifying regulatory inconsistencies, non-tariff barriers and institutional gaps that hinder cross-border trade, with the objective of informing a phased roadmap towards regulatory coherence and regional economic integration.
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Regulatory Coherence on Trade in the Indo-Pacific
As it celebrates its 40th year, the Information Technology for Development (ITD) journal is expanding its horizons and will now be published by the Association for Information Systems (AIS).
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New chapter begins for Commonwealth Secretariat’s flagship IT for Development journal in 2026
The International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Commonwealth Secretariat today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to extend a long-standing partnership, setting out a three-year programme of work to support sustainable, inclusive and digitally enabled trade across the Commonwealth, an association of 56 countries over five continents.
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Commonwealth, ITC to prioritise small island resilience, intra-African trade, critical minerals in new agreement
St Kitts and Nevis has launched a national consultation to modernise its e-commerce and digital trade laws, with technical support from the Commonwealth Secretariat. The country is the first in the Caribbean to pilot the Commonwealth Model Law on Digital Trade.
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Commonwealth supports St Kitts and Nevis to launch national consultation on e-commerce law reform
The Commonwealth Secretariat today launched the National Agricultural Data Infrastructure (NAgDI) Policy Guide, a landmark framework to help member countries unlock the power of agricultural data as a driver of productivity, food security and digital sovereignty.
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Commonwealth launches landmark guide to build trusted data systems for agriculture and food security
23 October 2025 to 23 October 2025
(GMT)
Event
In collaboration with the Embassy of Vanuatu, Brussels and the High Commission of Fiji in the United Kingdom.
The National Agricultural Data Infrastructure policy guide provides a comprehensive overview of a sectoral approach to digital public infrastructure aimed at establishing a coordinated and collaborative framework for agricultural data management.
The National Agricultural Data Infrastructure policy guide provides a comprehensive overview of a sectoral approach to digital public infrastructure aimed at establishing a coordinated and collaborative framework for agricultural data management.
Commonwealth Finance Ministers have met to set out ways to tackle the global economic uncertainty amid trade tariffs, inflationary pressures, debt vulnerabilities, and geopolitical fragmentation.
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Commonwealth ministers commit to unlocking finance amid economic uncertainty
During the Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s ICT Week, held in Jamaica, the Commonwealth Secretariat officially launched the Commonwealth Model Law on Digital Trade, accompanied by an implementation guide. This landmark legal framework is designed to modernise trade rules, strengthen competitiveness, and drive inclusive growth in the digital economy
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Commonwealth launches model law to unlock growth in digital trade
In the second of a two-part assessment of the global economic outlooks ahead of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting in Washington on 13 October 2025, Dr Thomas Munthali, Head of Economic Policy and Small States at the Commonwealth Secretariat, outlines how member countries can best respond.
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Blog: Turning economic headwinds into opportunities - A resilient future for the Commonwealth (Part 2)
Food producers, entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector and hospitality professionals on Mauritius' Rodrigues Island have been trained in world-class food safety standards to help boost the territory’s growing export market.
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Rodrigues Island food industry workers upskilled in world-class safety standards to boost exports
In the first in a two-part assessment of the global economic outlooks ahead of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting in Washington on 13 October 2025, Dr Thomas Munthali, Head of Economic Policy and Small States at the Commonwealth Secretariat, sets out the challenge facing member countries.
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Blog: Turning economic headwinds into opportunities - A resilient future for the Commonwealth (Part 1)
13 October 2025 to 13 October 2025
(EST – Washington DC)
Ministerial meeting
The 2025 Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting (CFMM) will take place on Monday, 13 October 2025, at the International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington, DC.
Fiji has launched a new digital interface, with support from the Commonwealth Secretariat, to better track how public funds are used.
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New interface helps Fiji track public funds, with Commonwealth support
Foreign Ministers from across the Commonwealth convened today at the United Nations Headquarters in New York for the 25th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM), chaired by Samoa’s Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Toelupe Maoiautele Poumulinuku Onesemo.
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Commonwealth Foreign Ministers unite at UN to champion multilateralism and drive reform
Commonwealth Central Bank Governors met on 16 September 2025 to address the economic challenges facing the 56 member countries, share their experiences, and explore opportunities for collaboration.
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Commonwealth Central Bank Governors convene to address global economic challenges
A blog by Neil Balchin (Economic Adviser, Trade Policy Analysis, International Trade Policy, Commonwealth Secretariat) and Kim Kampel (Trade Negotiations and Emerging Trade Issues, Commonwealth Small States Office) discussing their paper Investment Flows into Commonwealth Small States: Trends, Challenges and Implications.
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Blog: Closing the gap - small states, big investments
Sri Lanka will begin using the Commonwealth Meridian software next month to manage public debt as part of its economic recovery plan.
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Sri Lanka to use Commonwealth debt management software as part of economic recovery plan
The Commonwealth Model Law on Digital Trade offers transformative benefits for governments, businesses and consumers across member countries.
By providing legal certainty for electronic communications, records, signatures and contracts, the law eliminates long-standing barriers that have limited the adoption of paperless trade. Its implementation enables faster, more efficient transactions, reducing delays and administrative burdens, and improving overall trade performance.
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The Commonwealth Model Law on Digital Trade and Guide to Enactment
By providing legal certainty for electronic communications, records, signatures and contracts, the law eliminates long-standing barriers that have limited the adoption of paperless trade. Its implementation enables faster, more efficient transactions, reducing delays and administrative burdens, and improving overall trade performance.
By Dr Mohamed Z M Aazim, Adviser, Debt Management, Commonwealth Secretariat
Government debt is increasing in most Commonwealth countries. In some cases, it is growing faster than the economies that need to support it.
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Blog: Lagging growth, surging debt - a Commonwealth snapshot
Government debt is increasing in most Commonwealth countries. In some cases, it is growing faster than the economies that need to support it.
Unlocking the future of industry for inclusive, digital-led growth across the Commonwealth
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Manufacturing 4.0: A Policymaker’s Guide
Across the Commonwealth, women entrepreneurs are sparking meaningful change. From the bustling markets of Cameroon to the co-working spaces of Fiji and the tech labs of Canada, they are reshaping economies, lifting communities, and proving that inclusive growth isn’t just a slogan, it’s a necessity.
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Unlocking growth: Why women in business are vital for the future of the Commonwealth