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Trade and economy

The EU Deforestation Regulation: Trade and Investment Implications for Sub-Saharan African Countries

This study examines the economic effects of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) on sub-Saharan African countries and their capacity to comply with the regulation. It suggests Africa could potentially lose US$11 billion in annual exports as a result of non-compliance, with smallholder farmers the most vulnerable. To address these issues, the study suggests enforcing existing land use and environmental policies, building capacity at both policy and enterprise levels, providing technical assistance and ensuring co-operative EU engagement to adapt the EUDR to African contexts.

Read publication - The EU Deforestation Regulation: Trade and Investment Implications for Sub-Saharan African Countries

Blog: The Commonwealth’s National Agricultural Data Infrastructure

A blog by Dr. Benjamin Kwasi Addom, Adviser, Agriculture & Fisheries Trade Policy, Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda, Commonwealth Secretariat.

This blog is the third in a series exploring effective approaches to data management. The first blog focused on the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and its implications for Commonwealth countries, while the second examined ‘Building national data infrastructures through a bottom-up approach.’

In this entry, we explore the significance of NAgDI in empowering Commonwealth nations to build shared agricultural data infrastructures, ensuring compliance with global trade regulations while fostering economic resilience and data sovereignty.
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Blog: From policy to practice - Building national data infrastructures through a bottom-up approach

This blog is the second in a series of three exploring effective approaches to data management. The first blog focused on the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and its implications for Commonwealth countries, highlighting the importance of a coordinated national approach to data management.

In this entry, we delve deeper into the necessity of a bottom-up approach to harness global data investments and build robust national data infrastructures.
Read news - Blog: From policy to practice - Building national data infrastructures through a bottom-up approach

Commonwealth Secretary-General encourages increased investment in the Caribbean

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, made a strong case for continued investment and partnership at the UK-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum. The event was organised by DMA Invest in partnership with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the UK Department for Business & Trade, and UK Export Finance.
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Handbook on Extractive Sector Investment Negotiations

This Handbook on Extractive Sector Investment Negotiations, which is aimed at developing country officials, is intended as a guide for teams involved in negotiations with foreign investors to ensure that processes are designed and followed to achieve positive, sustainable outcomes that produce ‘win-win’ results.

This handbook attempts to bring a holistic approach to such negotiations, which includes a multidisciplinary approach through the involvement of all relevant stakeholders.
Read publication - Handbook on Extractive Sector Investment Negotiations

Commonwealth promotes legal reform and digital trade transformation at CTU ICT Week 2024

The Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda (CCA) reinforced its commitment to advancing trade digitalisation and facilitating the digital transformation of its member states in the Caribbean at the Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s (CTU) ICT Week 2024, held in St Kitts and Nevis from 30 September to 4 October 2024.
Read news - Commonwealth promotes legal reform and digital trade transformation at CTU ICT Week 2024

Commonwealth launches investment action plan to drive resilient economic growth

Today, on the margins of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa, Commonwealth leaders gathered for a side event to unveil the Commonwealth Investment Action Plan. The plan aims to boost trade and investment across Commonwealth member states while enhancing the economic resilience of small and vulnerable nations.
Read news - Commonwealth launches investment action plan to drive resilient economic growth

Commonwealth recognises young writers for innovative trade solutions to climate crisis at CHOGM

The Commonwealth awarded the winners of the Think Trade, Think Green: Commonwealth Innovative Youth Essay competition today. The competition challenged young researchers and students to explore how trade and trade policy can tackle the climate crisis and drive a resilient, inclusive transformation across the Commonwealth.
Read news - Commonwealth recognises young writers for innovative trade solutions to climate crisis at CHOGM

Record highs for Commonwealth Trade and Investment: 2024 Commonwealth Trade Review launched

Strengthening Food Security through Trade, Investment, and Resilient Supply Chains

The Commonwealth Secretariat today launched the 2024 Commonwealth Trade Review, highlighting the critical role of trade and investment in bolstering food security across its 56 member states. Released just ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa, the report reveals record-breaking figures in intra-Commonwealth trade, while providing key insights into the future of food security.
Read news - Record highs for Commonwealth Trade and Investment: 2024 Commonwealth Trade Review launched

Think Trade, Think Green: Selected Essays from the Commonwealth Innovative Youth Competition

The Think Trade, Think Green: Commonwealth Innovative Youth Essay Award has been launched by the Trade Competitiveness Section and the Commonwealth Youth Programme as part of activities planned for the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Apia, Samoa. The 56 Commonwealth member countries have a combined population of 2.7 billion people, with over 60 per cent aged between 15 and 29. The role of young people as agents of positive change and creators of innovative projects in their communities and countries is increasingly recognised as they contribute to finding solutions to the myriad challenges facing our world.
Read publication - Think Trade, Think Green: Selected Essays from the Commonwealth Innovative Youth Competition

Strengthening Food Security in the Commonwealth: Trade, Investment and Resilient Supply Chains

The world is significantly off-track in terms of achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 on zero hunger by 2030. Eliminating hunger, ensuring food security and promoting healthy diets and better nutrition through the development of sustainable food systems are priorities for Commonwealth member countries. This 2024 edition of the Commonwealth Trade Review explores how trade, investment and resilient supply chains can bolster food security for the Commonwealth’s 2.7 billion people.
Read publication - Strengthening Food Security in the Commonwealth: Trade, Investment and Resilient Supply Chains

Launch of the 2024 Commonwealth Trade Review

15 October 2024 to 15 October 2024
(UK time)
Event
Join us for the official launch of the 2024 Commonwealth Trade Review, titled 'Strengthening Food Security in the Commonwealth: Trade, Investment, and Resilient Supply Chains'.

This key publication, prepared ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, explores the pivotal role that trade and investment play in enhancing food security across the Commonwealth's 56 member countries, home to 2.7 billion people. It also provides the latest data on trends and drivers of intra-Commonwealth trade and investment.

Trade, Agriculture, and Development: Meeting Global Challenges to Commonwealth Countries

This report analyses how international trade in general, and agriculture trade in particular, can be mobilised to raise agricultural productivity, promote access to nutritious food and sustainably facilitate trade in agricultural commodities, and offers policy recommendations to support agricultural trade to achieve these ends.
Read publication - Trade, Agriculture, and Development: Meeting Global Challenges to Commonwealth Countries

Launch of Commonwealth-UNESCAP Joint Report on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in the Commonwealth

12 September 2024 to 12 September 2024
(BST)
Event
In partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), the Commonwealth Secretariat has developed its first report on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation in the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth Secretariat Celebrates Launch of The Gambia's New Digital Trade and Tourism Platforms

The Government of The Republic of The Gambia, in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat, announced last week the successful launch of a series of digital platforms designed to transform The Gambia’s trade, tourism, and investment sectors. The launch event, held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre (SDKJICC) in Bijilo, marked a significant step forward in The Gambia’s digital and economic transformation.
Read news - Commonwealth Secretariat Celebrates Launch of The Gambia's New Digital Trade and Tourism Platforms

The Commonwealth Model Law on Virtual Assets

Advancements in blockchain and distributed ledger technology have had a revolutionary impact across many sectors, particularly finance. With these technologies likely to play ever more prominent roles in our economies, this Model Law for Virtual Assets provides Commonwealth member countries with a regulatory framework that will give much-needed legislative clarity to financial markets and vital protection to customers.
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Commonwealth, UNCTAD and Partners Advocates for Strategic Trade Reforms to Empower Least Developed Countries

Last week, the Commonwealth Secretariat, The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the Permanent Mission of Nepal in Geneva co-organised a session at the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) 9th Global Review of the ‘Aid for Trade’ initiative.
Read news - Commonwealth, UNCTAD and Partners Advocates for Strategic Trade Reforms to Empower Least Developed Countries

Strengthening Fair Markets: Saint Lucia Hosts Key Competition Law Workshop with CARICOM and Commonwealth

The CARICOM Competition Commission (CCC), the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the Government of Saint Lucia recently hosted a three-day capacity building workshop for government officials in competition law and policy. The workshop was held from the 17th-19th June 2024 at Bel Jou Hotel, Castries, Saint Lucia.
Read news - Strengthening Fair Markets: Saint Lucia Hosts Key Competition Law Workshop with CARICOM and Commonwealth