Latest content: Trade and economy

This blog about the new policy guide 'The State of Digital Agriculture in the Commonwealth' is written by Benjamin Kwasi Addom, Adviser on Agriculture & Fisheries Trade Policy, The Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda.

New Commonwealth policy guide demonstrates how governments can leverage digital tools to revolutionise the agricultural sector

Over 130 people attended a Commonwealth Secretariat webinar on recording and managing risk-free interest rates.

As part of the ongoing 2022 Commonwealth Games Business & Tourism Programme (BATP), the United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade (DIT) is hosting a series of market awareness webinars targeting both businesses new to exporting and experienced exporters, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), seeking new market opportunities.

Today Commonwealth Finance Ministers met on the margins of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings in Washington DC for the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting 2022 (CFMM) to address emerging economic issues facing the global economy and Commonwealth countries.

At their annual meeting held today in Washington DC, Commonwealth Central Bank Governors came together to discuss strategies to best work together to tackle inflation at a time when the global economy is facing excessive inflationary pressures driven by geopolitical tensions, coupled with the disruption in supply chain.

A blog by: Akeem Rahaman, Economic Advisor, Sophie Brain, Research Officer, and James Gregory, Research Officer work in the Economic Policy and Small States Directorate of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The two organisations will broaden their existing cooperation to promote the ocean economy, curb plastic pollution, support least-developed countries, bolster the digital economy and boost gender equality.

The Commonwealth Secretariat has partnered with the Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), a member of the Islamic Development Bank Group, and Cameroon’s Ministry of Trade to deliver the first of a series of digital boot camp training workshops to build the capacity of women-owned micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) across the west central African country.

This week, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, spoke at the Management Development Institute (MDI) in New Delhi India, about the importance of closing the digital divide and utilizing strategies such as SMART governance.

By Brendan Vickers, Head, International Trade Policy Section; Salamat Ali, Economic Adviser, Trade Economist and Neil Balchin, Economic Adviser, Trade Policy Analysis, The Commonwealth Secretariat, London.

One of the greatest challenges facing many Commonwealth countries is the global food crisis and soaring prices.

The 2022 Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF 2022) commenced in Kigali today, with participants deliberating on key global issues and the role of the Commonwealth in leading a global reset as the world emerges from the pandemic.

Blog by Travis Mitchell, Adviser and Head, Economic Policy and Small States

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, joined Ministers from across the world in attending the Opening Session of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) at the WTO headquarters in Geneva on 12 June 2022. The Secretary-General attended as a special guest of the Conference Chair, Kazakhstan.

The Commonwealth Secretariat and World Trade Organization (WTO) signed yesterday (11 June) a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation between the two organizations and to enhance the participation of Commonwealth countries in the multilateral trading system.

Governments and the business community across the Commonwealth are set to meet for the first and largest in-person gathering at the Commonwealth Business Forum, held alongside CHOGM in Kigali later this month. Ahead of the Forum, the Commonwealth Secretary-General addressed members of the Eastern Africa Association reaffirming the Secretariat’s commitment to supporting member governments, businesses, and the people in East Africa as they unleash their full potential