Yesterday, Tuesday, June 21, 2022, marked the opening of the Commonwealth Business and People’s Forums.
The Commonwealth Business Forum – the first and largest in-person gathering for governments and businesses across the Commonwealth since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic – brought together over 1,500 delegates from Commonwealth member states.
At the opening ceremony, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, was joined by H.E. President Paul Kagame, the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Hon. Philip Edward Davis, Lord Marland, Chair of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), and other dignitaries. Delegates deliberated on key global issues and the role of the Commonwealth in leading “A Global Reset” as the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Commonwealth People’s Forum is being held under the theme, Delivering a Common Future: Our Health, Our Planet, Our Future. Day one of the Forum focused on: Building Resilient and Equitable National Health Systems; Climate Justice and Leadership for Change in the Commonwealth; and Health and Climate: Meeting the Immediate Challenge of Financing.
Meanwhile, following days of deliberations, the Commonwealth Youth Forum came to an end yesterday, with the presentation of a six-point action plan (The Youth Declaration) on youth development, which will form the topic of discussion when young leaders meet with heads of government during an intergenerational dialogue on Saturday. The Declaration was revealed at a ceremony marking the installation of the new Commonwealth Youth Council executives who will act as a recognised voice for the 1.2 billion under-30s living in the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth Women’s Forum also concluded today. During nine sessions spread over two days, we heard from a distinguished line-up of speakers who addressed the role of women and girls in all areas of our societies – from ending violence against women and girls to peace building and leadership to climate action and intergenerational solidarity. The outcomes of the Forum will be formalised and provided to Foreign Affairs Ministers ahead of the meeting of the Heads of Government at the end of this week.
WATCH RECORDINGS FROM YESTERDAY’S
Commonwealth Business Forum
- Opening Ceremony: Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming
- Opening Plenary | A Global Reset: Leveraging the Commonwealth for a Global Recovery
- Commonwealth Trade: Challenging Protectionisms and Reducing the Barriers to Business
- The Business of Sustainable Fashion
- Kigali Financial Square Groundbreaking Ceremony
Commonwealth Women’s Forum
- Human Capital Development: Building Girls Leaders of Tomorrow
- Conquering Cervical Cancer in the Commonwealth: Realities, Challenges and Opportunities
- Outcomes of Commonwealth Women’s Forum and Closing Remarks
Commonwealth Youth Forum
Commonwealth People’s Forum
Commonwealth Secretariat
- CHOGM 2022 Playlist – a collection of video highlights and vox pops from CHOGM 2022
READ TODAY’S PRESS RELEASES
- Island nations urge Commonwealth leaders to bolster ocean climate action
- Commonwealth Digital Trade Hackathon launches at final day of Youth Forum
- The 2022 Commonwealth Business Forum begins on a high note in Kigali
- A call to action to eliminate cervical cancer in the Commonwealth
- Commonwealth Youth Forum: Increased taxes for industrial polluters and more support for youth-led start-ups among recommendations for governments from youth
PHOTOS
Skerrit my boy, to be honest I’m more interested in what is happening here, back home. You cannot even call a meeting of parliament regularly but you have to take a big delegation to Africa for a week. What does that do for us. Fix the issues at home first. Thank you.
You have my vote on this one. Ever so often is free trips to every part of the world with his sheep-like worshippers, dining on caviar and sipping Chateau Lafite wine ($280K per bottle). The only place he has not put foot on is Antarctica. No 5***** hotel is there.
Is the Commonwealth still relevant or positively impactful to our lives in the Caribbean? This organisation is an extension of the colonial era. It’s a great talk shop which hardly delivers much to the population of its member states.
At this present meeting, what would make the biggest headline is who becomes the Secretary General. Imagine that.
No it’s lost it’s relevance in this multipolar world.
It is relevant neo-colonialism, designed to keep the African Continent, along with all poor peoples money.