For more information contact our Trade team
Learn more about the Regulatory Connectivity cluster of the Connectivity Agenda
Main page for this area of work
Learn more about the Digital Connectivity cluster of the Connectivity Agenda
Learn more about the Connectivity Agenda Physical Connectivity cluster
The Hub and Spokes program is an innovative initiative that sends trade advisors to government ministries and economic organisations to help boost trade in the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries.
With the emergence of technology-enabled financial services (fintech) and the profound changes to the production and delivery of financial services it has enabled, Commonwealth Central Bank Governors (CCBGs) expressed a desire for improved technical guidance on fintech implementation.
Commonwealth countries are endowed with immense and precious natural resources. These include millions of square kilometres of ocean space, significant renewable (wind, solar) and non-renewable resources (oil, gas, minerals). When managed equitably and sustainably, the exploitation of natural resources bolsters national resilience to economic and social crises, improving prosperity for all citizens.
The Secretariat’s Debt Management Unit (DMU), through its public debt management programme, supports member countries’ efforts to effectively manage their debt portfolios.
Fundamental changes are taking place in the technologies and rules that underpin global trade in goods and services. This presents the Commonwealth’s diverse countries with challenges, but opens up opportunities to expand trade and investment between members and with the rest of the world.
The Commonwealth helps boost trade between member countries to create prosperity for all. Here are some of our programmes that support trade and economy.
Today Malawi’s Ministry of Trade, in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and in partnership with the and the WTO’s Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) Project, has launched the National Export Strategy II (NES II) at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC).
Read press release -
Official Launch of Malawi’s National Export Strategy II (2021-2022)
Event
From December 1-3, 2021, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is providing a virtual space 'The IISD’s Trade + Sustainability Hub' for civil society, government, business, and international organizations to discuss trade and sustainable development.
The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), to be held from 30 November to 3 December,
Read news -
Supporting Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in the Commonwealth ahead of WTO Ministerial Conference
Senior trade officials from Commonwealth Small States last week concluded a three-day virtual workshop to prepare for the World Trade Organization’s forthcoming Twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12).
Read news -
Commonwealth Empowers Small States Officials ahead of World Trade Organization negotiations
After three years in the making, last week the launched its new Voluntary Information and Price-Sharing database (VIPSD). One-third of the world’s population lacks access to essential medicines, with most of them living in poor countries, while rising prices of new drugs are becoming a challenge in wealthy states. And, since the global Covid-19 pandemic, the urgent need for essential medicines has intensified.
Read press release -
Commonwealth Launches Voluntary Information and Price Sharing Database
At their annual meeting, Commonwealth Finance Ministers were urged to take action to change the current development finance architecture, enhance access to finance for countries vulnerable to climate change and address debt sustainability.
Read press release -
Finance Ministers call for change to development finance architecture to fight climate change and address debt vulnerabilities
12 October 2021 to 12 October 2021
Event
Finance ministers will meet virtually for the 2021 Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting on Tuesday 12 October 2021 from 09:00hrs - 11:00 EST time / 14:00 - 16:00 UK Time.
Event
As part of the COVID-19 Policy Briefing Series, this webinar will explore maritime trade landscape in the Commonwealth and demonstrate how maritime trade and shipping can help to revitalise Commonwealth trade post-COVID.
Commonwealth countries are estimated to have lost up to US$345 billion worth of trade in 2020, including $60 billion in intra-Commonwealth trade, according to 2021 Commonwealth Trade Review on “Energising Commonwealth Trade in a Digital World: Paths to Recovery Post-COVID”.
Read press release -
US$345 billion loss in trade for Commonwealth countries due to pandemic
Event
This edition of the biennial Commonwealth Trade Review presents new empirical findings about the impact of the pandemic and outlines practical recommendations to boost trade recovery and build resilience, especially by harnessing digital trade and digital technologies, utilising post-Brexit trading opportunities and promoting more sustainable green and blue economies.
Event
The Trade Competitiveness Section of the and the Secretariat of the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) are organising a joint webinar on the topic ‘New Post-Brexit Procedural Rules for African, Caribbean, and Pacific Exports into the UK’.
Event
This virtual event, co-organised by the and the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), will focus on the soft infrastructure needs of Commonwealth member countries in relation to training and capacity building around digital infrastructure.
2 March 2021 to 2 March 2021
Event
In this virtual event, speakers will discuss digital agriculture and digital fisheries, especially during the global health pandemic. The event builds on the outcomes of the 4th Supply-Side Connectivity Cluster meeting of the Commonwealth Connectivity Agenda held in November 2020 which called for a focus on smart agriculture for sustainable development.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland has welcomed the historic appointment of former Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to head the World Trade Organization, the first woman and representative of the African continent to do so.
Read news -
Commonwealth Secretary-General congratulates new head of WTO
19 February 2021 to 19 February 2021
Event
This virtual event will explore the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector, including a review of current policy initiatives being undertaken to tackle the tourism decline.
15 December 2020 to 15 December 2020
Event
The webinar will explore some of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on trade in food products in Commonwealth countries in the early months of the pandemic.