By Brendan Vickers, Economic Adviser and Head, International Trade Policy Section; Salamat Ali, Economic Adviser & Trade Economist and Neil Balchin, Economic Adviser, Trade Policy Analysis, The Commonwealth Secretariat
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Why the least developed countries of the Commonwealth are doing better at trade
Main page for this area of work
23 February 2022 to 23 February 2022
Webinar
The Commonwealth Secretariat is formally launching a new digitised report on “A new programme of action for Commonwealth Least Developed Countries: Progress, challenges and priorities”.
The Commonwealth helps boost trade between member countries to create prosperity for all. Here are some of our programmes that support trade and economy.
A new toolkit launched in the margins of the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 aims to unlock clean energy investments for small island nations, many of whom rely heavily on imported fossil fuels for power generation.
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New toolkit to boost clean energy investments in small island nations
Breaking the world’s reliance on fossil fuels and accelerating the global uptake of renewable energy will play a decisive role in diminishing the threat of global warming to the survival of life on earth, according to experts. But turning the vision into reality will demand unwavering political will and, critically, massive investment, which can no longer be shouldered solely by aid and development partners.
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Mobilising the ‘Tools’ for renewable energy investment in the Seychelles
16 November 2021 to 17 November 2021
Event
The SPD and ICT teams are collaborating with the Commonwealth Pharmacist Association, SAPAM and external country based individuals to share our success at the 2021 NetHope Summit at a Session titled “Partnering to Promote Information Sharing in Commonwealth Medical Procurement”
After three years in the making, last week the Commonwealth Secretariat 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.
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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.
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Finance Ministers call for change to development finance architecture to fight climate change and address debt vulnerabilities
At UNCTAD15 in Barbados, Commonwealth Secretary-General spoke on a hybrid virtual and in-person roundtable on the theme of ‘Regional integration for a resilient, inclusive and sustainable future’.
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Our most urgent priority must be greater access to vaccines, says Commonwealth Secretary-General at UNCTAD15
More than 200 women have completed a Women Economic Entrepreneurship Training (WEET) programme, delivered in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat, to empower them with the skills to establish their own businesses.
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Commonwealth empowers female entrepreneurs through training programme in Pakistan
Event
The Commonwealth Secretariat is hosting a UN World Data Forum local meet-up on October 5, 2021, entitled Making it Count, the Value of Commonwealth Data, to discuss the importance of data for sustainable development.
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.
21 July 2022 to 31 December 2022
Event
This course is self-paced and ongoing. There is no closing date, as participants can enrol anytime.
The Gambia with the support of The Commonwealth Secretariat launched its new five-year export strategy aimed at growing dynamic and sustainable economic growth in the country.
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Commonwealth helps The Gambia grow and diversify exports
1 September 2021 to 2 September 2021
Event
A two-day virtual panel discussion on Public Debt Management in the Wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic: Challenges and Opportunities for Commonwealth Countries.
Emerging petroleum-producing countries in the Commonwealth, and beyond, are striving to break the historical mould of fossil fuel-driven growth and forge a new path towards economic resilience.
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New petroleum producers strive to forge a new development path
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”.
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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.
The Commonwealth Secretariat proposed the development of a global ‘Tourism Action Plan’ to help spur a much-needed recovery.
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Commonwealth Proposes First Global Tourism Action Plan to Spur Post-Covid Recovery
Event
This joint side event by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda will focus on the informal use of vulnerability indices in development financing decisions.
Event
This webinar will provide a practical introduction to investor-state dispute settlement with a focus on the Pacific region.
22 June 2021 to 22 June 2021
Event
In the face of multiple global crises, debt-for-climate swaps are being widely discussed as an instrument to manage mounting public debts, climate change challenges and Covid-19 recovery. Belize is a small island developing state in the Caribbean region facing these challenges. The Government of Belize has requested the Commonwealth Secretariat to provide assistance to design and implement a ‘Debt for Climate/Nature Swap Mechanism’ for the country.
10 June 2021 to 10 June 2021
Event
The Commonwealth Secretariat is hosting a webinar in partnership with Microsoft about the skills that young people need to be competitive as employees, entrepreneurs and digital citizens. Over 60 percent of the Commonwealth's 2.4 billion citizens are aged 29 or under. This webinar will offer an opportunity for young people from across the Commonwealth to talk about their digital skills needs and challenges with industry experts.
Continuing determined action is needed for malaria rates to fall by more than 50 per cent by 2023 to meet the target set out by Commonwealth leaders, the Secretary-General urged on World Malaria Day.
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Commonwealth countries must sustain action on halving malaria by 2023 amid COVID-19