This was the message from Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey during her address at the inaugural Commonwealth Business Summit currently taking place in Windhoek, Namibia.

Botchwey emphasised the importance of equitable access to trade opportunities and finance as a means of ensuring that the benefits of economic growth are widely shared. She announced the official launch of the Commonwealth Investment Network, a new platform designed to connect credible investment projects with capital across member states.

“Our goal is bold but achievable: to demonstrate that trade and investment within the Commonwealth can transform our economies and sustain the resilience needed for each Commonwealth citizen to enjoy the democratic dividend,” said Botchwey.

She noted that unlocking the potential of the Commonwealth’s 2.7 billion people, many of whom are under the age of 30, depends on inclusive trade and investment strategies that raise incomes and support development across the bloc.

The new investment network, she explained, is part of a broader effort to deepen intra-Commonwealth economic cooperation and build a robust consumer market powered by domestic innovation and entrepreneurship.

“It requires a partnership with Commonwealth businesses and financing institutions on strategies to raise incomes and make our 2.7 billion population a consumer market powering Commonwealth prosperity,” she said.

Botchwey also reiterated the Commonwealth’s target of growing intra-bloc trade to at least $2 trillion by 2030. She argued that through collaboration, better financing mechanisms, and a commitment to inclusivity, Commonwealth nations can not only recover from global shocks but thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy.

--ChannelAfrica--