Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Opening Keynote: Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting in Windhoek, Namibia, on 19 June 2025.
It is a pleasure and a privilege to join you in the heart of Windhoek – a city of resilience and renewal – to open this year’s Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting. I offer my profound thanks to each of you for making the journey here, and I thank the Government and people of Namibia for their outstanding hospitality. We gather at a moment of serious challenge, but also historic opportunity, for global trade. And we gather as a Commonwealth community that is united in the conviction that this is the time to leverage our values and unity of purpose for our shared prosperity.
Well before the turbulence facing global trade, our Heads of Government had given us a clear mission: to unlock the full potential of Commonwealth trade and investment – and to grow intra-Commonwealth trade to US$2 trillion by 2030. We are not starting from scratch. We have what we all know as Commonwealth Trade Advantage — shared language, familiar legal systems, deep trust, historic ties, and strong diaspora connections. Together, these give us a 21% cost advantage on average when we trade with each other.
That is powerful. But we cannot be content with potential. We must turn it into progress.
The international trading system stands at a crossroads. Geopolitical tensions are rising. Tariffs are returning. Conflicts in Europe, the Middle East and Africa are distorting supply chains.And just last month, the IMF warned of a dangerous fragmentation of the global economy. For Commonwealth countries, the stakes are high. An estimated US$750 billion in exports could be exposed to external shocks if global trade continues to splinter. In this uncertain landscape, the value of our Commonwealth cooperation becomes clearer than ever. Because when others put up barriers, we will build bridges. When others retreat, we will reach out. When others divide, we will deliver. That is why I have placed trade at the centre of the Commonwealth’s strategic renewal.
The new Commonwealth Strategic Plan, which I am leading with your input, will prioritise Trade, Finance and Economic Resilience as one of its foundational pillars. We are backing this with action:
- New data to help identify barriers and investment opportunities.
- Deeper support for trade digitalisation and e-commerce.
- Stronger partnerships with development banks, SMEs, investors and businesses.
- And a renewed commitment to the rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core.
This is not just about protecting what we have — it is about preparing for the future.
This year, for the first time, the Commonwealth Business Summit is running alongside this Trade Ministers Meeting. It brings together Ministers, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and development financiers — not just to talk, but to act. From infrastructure and agriculture to renewable energy and critical minerals, to digital trade and food security — we are building the partnerships that drive investment and expand opportunity. Let me take this opportunity to warmly welcome our valued partners who have joined us here in Windhoek:
His Excellency Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA,
Pedro Manuel Moreno Fernandez, Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD,
Dr. Edwine Kwame Kessie, Director, Agriculture and Commodities Division of the WTO,
Dr. Yemi Kale, Chief Economist, Afrexim Bank.
Thank you so much for your commitment to our trade and investment agenda.
- Let us seize this moment to:
- Diversify and secure food supply chains across our regions;
- Accelerate renewable energy investment and green trade;
- Equip small and vulnerable states to engage competitively and fairly;
- And ensure that trade works for people — in cities and villages, for women and young entrepreneurs, for small businesses and for future generations.
The goal we have set — US$2 trillion in intra-Commonwealth trade by 2030 — is not a slogan. It is a statement of intent. To reach it, we must move faster, work smarter, and act together. That means breaking down the real and perceived barriers that limit trade. It means advancing regional integration and connectivity. It means championing inclusive, sustainable, and digital-first trade policy. And it means aligning our vision for the Commonwealth with the ambitions of our businesses, our investors, and our citizens.
The Commonwealth is not just a network - it is a platform. Not just a legacy. It is a lever. Not just a family. It is a force for delivery. At a time when trust in global systems is fraying, the Commonwealth stands in bold relief: A trusted partner. A dynamic market. A home for shared prosperity.
Yesterday, at the opening of the Commonwealth Business Summit, I assured them that of your commitment to expediting ambitious industrialization agendas in order to expand consumer markets across the Commonwealth. That is the pathway to our shared prosperity. And that is our shared responsibility. So let us use this meeting not simply to exchange views — but to drive change. Let us transform the Commonwealth Trade Advantage into Commonwealth Trade Ambition — and make that ambition real in every region, every sector, and every community we serve.
Together, we can rise to the challenge. Together, we can shape a more resilient, more inclusive, more prosperous future. Together, we can trade our way to transformation.
