Latest content: Economic development

Across the Commonwealth, there are many fibrous plants that can serve as the basis for industries producing crafts, fabrics and furniture

“A recognition of a right to development and trade as an enforcement in the WTO framework would ensure Aid for Trade works for poorer countries” - Professor Stiglitz

“This book provides a ray of hope to small states" - Assad Bhuglah, Director of Trade Policy at the International Trade Division, Mauritius

Nobel prize-winning economist Professor Joseph Stiglitz will present a report proposing new ways of ensuring that international trade benefits developing countries at a Commonwealth meeting in Geneva on 26 June 2013.

LONDON, 20 June 2013: Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma has announced that former Guyana President Bharrat Jagdeo, will lead a high-level team of experts to identify solutions for unlocking resources to enable small, poor and climate-vulnerable Commonwealth countries to combat climate change.

2013 Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting concludes with strong resolve on women’s leadership

Speaker: Freda Miriklis, President of the International Federation of Business and Professional Women

‘Leadership, opportunity and enterprise together are a powerful blend, particularly when the vital ingredient of ‘Women’ is added’ – Commonwealth Secretary-General

While visiting Zambia Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba meets young people receiving vocational and entrepreneurship training

The Commonwealth Secretariat's Director of Political Affairs, Amitav Banerji, called on the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, at his office in Washington DC on 29 May.

New partnership lays foundation for Commonwealth to promote greater revenue transparency in oil, gas and mining

The Commonwealth collectively joins in celebrating this golden anniversary, and we renew our commitment to working with Africa to advance all our shared values - Kamalesh Sharma

“While national governments will always remain important, the onus is even greater on local governments to deliver the fruits of development” - Amitav Banerji, Commonwealth Secretariat

The contribution by the Commonwealth at this meeting has been timely, relevant and productive - Andrey Bokarev, chair of the Russian G20 Development Working Group

Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma will visit St Kitts and Nevis from 12 to 14 May 2013. He will meet with Prime Minister Denzil Douglas and government ministers, as well as other public officials and political representatives. The Secretary-General said discussions would focus in particular on Commonwealth support to small states.

“As a key stakeholder in the global partnership for development, the G20 can help create a global environment that is conducive to growth and development”

"The world we want is a development contract that should bring everybody on board"

London, 17 April 2013 ‒ Finance ministers, central bank governors and senior officials from Commonwealth and La Francophonie countries will meet in Washington DC on 21 April 2013 to rub minds on how to draw greater awareness to their concerns with the G20 - the forum of the world’s largest economies.

The Commonwealth Secretariat has overhauled its policies and procedures and strengthened mechanisms for oversight and line manager accountability, including external and internal audit.

How do you encourage people to save and bank their money where no bank branches exist? The National Bank of Vanuatu with support from the Commonwealth Secretariat came up with some innovative ideas…

Botswana to host continent-wide initiative to combat ‘graft’

Trade officials from 13 Commonwealth Pacific countries are meeting in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, for a week-long training course on negotiating investment and trade deals.

“This requires combined wisdom to explore ways of dealing with this challenge if efforts to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals are to bear fruit” – Cyrus Rustomjee

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma yesterday hosted a reception at the Commonwealth headquarters, Marlborough House in London, to thank the outgoing Chair of the Council of Commonwealth Societies, Lord Watson of Richmond, and to welcome the Council’s incoming Chair, Lord Howell of Guildford.

The theme "encourages us all to celebrate the ways in which talent and innovation can be supported and put to the best use possible" - Secretary-General