News

Guildhall, City of London – 22 September 2025 – On Monday, CWEIC and the City of London co-hosted a high-level roundtable at Guildhall, chaired by the Lord Mayor of the City of London, and CWEIC’s Chief Executive, Samantha Cohen, under the theme “Growth Unleashed: Mobilising Innovative Finance for Resilient Commonwealth Economies.”

The discussion brought together CWEIC Strategic Partners, City of London members, and business leaders from across the Commonwealth to examine how innovative financial mechanisms can unlock capital for sustainable growth, particularly in emerging markets and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Participants agreed that while the UK remains a global leader in financial and professional services, there is an urgent need to deepen its engagement in emerging Commonwealth markets. Leveraging the Commonwealth Advantage—21% lower trade costs and 27% higher FDI flows between member countries—will be key to expanding UK presence and influence in these fast-growing economies.

Central to the conversation was the role of public–private partnerships in mobilising investment. By improving risk-sharing and fostering collaboration between governments, regulators, institutional investors, and the private sector, such partnerships can help de-risk high-impact projects in areas such as infrastructure, clean energy, and digital innovation.

The roundtable also highlighted the importance of embedding sustainability into investment strategies. Beyond the blue and green economy, capital must be directed towards social responsibility—upskilling, education, job creation, and solutions to systemic challenges that are often overlooked. These priorities are particularly urgent across the Commonwealth’s emerging markets and SIDS, where investment can have the most transformative impact.

CWEIC plays a unique role in this agenda by presenting viable projects to investors, platforming opportunities, and forging connections that stimulate long-term economic growth across the Commonwealth.

The Lord Mayor’s “Growth Unleashed” agenda, including the landmark Mansion House Accord, served as a strong example of how voluntary commitments, smarter regulation, and clearer investment pipelines can channel long-term capital into productive, future-oriented sectors.

CWEIC looks forward to continuing to work alongside the City of London and its Strategic Partners to ensure that capital is mobilised responsibly and strategically to strengthen resilience and prosperity across the Commonwealth.

More pictures can be found here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCv5U9