News

All ArticlesAll Articles

08.01.2022

CWEIC Chief Executive Samantha Cohen’s New Year’s Message

News

CWEIC Chief Executive Samantha Cohen’s New Year’s Message

I would like to wish all of our Strategic Partners a very warm welcome to 2022.  I trust that you had a peaceful Christmas and New Year break.

This year is going to be an important and exciting one for CWEIC and the Commonwealth.  After a difficult 18 months navigating the initial devastating impact of covid, Commonwealth businesses and national economies are more agile and prepared for the next phase of the pandemic.  There is a great momentum to invest, innovate and utilise opportunities that have been created through this time of significant change.

2022 is the year of the Platinum Jubilee; a unique anniversary celebrating The Queen’s 70 years of service with a programme of official events in June across the UK and the Commonwealth.  Her Majesty The Queen, as Head of the Commonwealth, has, over the course of her long reign, led the evolution of the Commonwealth from 9 nations to 54 nations with more countries still applying to join.  The modern Commonwealth as a dynamic network of member nations with shared values has never been more important.

Commonwealth Week, starting on March 14th, will be celebrated with the traditional Service at Westminster Abbey led by the Royal Family.  CWEIC will also be hosting a trade delegation to the Dubai Expo to highlight Commonwealth Week.

The Commonwealth Games will be hosted by the UK in Birmingham in July with CWEIC leading the Commonwealth Games Business Forum at the start of the sporting programme.  CWEIC is delivering a series of virtual Business Roundtables around the Commonwealth, starting this month, to accompany The Queen’s Baton Relay as it moves around the world.

It is also anticipated that the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and the Commonwealth Business Forum, scheduled to be held in Rwanda, will also be reinstated.

Please find below a calendar of events for 2022.  We look forward to more in-person meetings, travel where possible and a year of maximising and harnessing the potential and power of trade and investment across the Commonwealth.

Samantha Cohen, Chief Executive, CWEIC

CWEIC Spring Activity Calendar
All times are GMT

 

13 January   INDIA AND THE UK: INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE
0930-1130 A virtual roundtable connecting companies from India and the West Midlands region of the UK, in advance of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and celebrating the Queen’s Baton Relay arriving in India.
If you would like to be involved, please contact events@cweic.org
 

 

18 January   SINGAPORE AND THE UK: INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE
0930-1030 A virtual roundtable connecting companies from Singapore and the West Midlands region of the UK, in advance of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and celebrating the Queen’s Baton Relay arriving in Singapore.
If you would like to be involved, please contact events@cweic.org
 

 

24 January   MALAYSIA AND THE UK: INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE
0930-1030 A virtual roundtable connecting companies from Malaysia and the West Midlands region of the UK, in advance of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and celebrating the Queen’s Baton Relay arriving in Malaysia.
If you would like to be involved, please contact events@cweic.org
 

 

24 February Doing Business in India Webinar
TBC A webinar to support businesses looking to enter the Indian market, or expand their presence there, led by CWEIC’s India Country Director Gitesh Agarwal.
Please hold the dates in your diary, programme to be shared shortly
 

 

13-15 March   Commonwealth Delegation to Dubai Expo
TBC A CWEIC led delegation of Commonwealth Businesses to the Dubai Expo calling on the UK and other Commonwealth Pavilions, as well as an opportunity to network with regional businesses.
Please hold the dates in your diary, programme to be shared shortly
 

 

17-20 March   Australia – UK Queen’s Baton Relay Roundtable
Date TBC A hybrid roundtable connecting companies from Australia and the West Midlands region of the UK, in advance of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and celebrating the Queen’s Baton Relay arriving in Australia
If you would like to be involved, please contact events@cweic.org
 

 

March TBC   Global Advisory Council Meeting
New date TBC The first Global Advisory Council Meeting of 2022, CWEIC will update Strategic Partners on plans and upcoming programmes.
To be held as a hybrid event, new date to be shared shortly
 

 

13 May Antigua & Barbuda – UK Queen’s Baton Relay Roundtable
Time TBC A virtual roundtable connecting companies from Antigua & Barbuda and the West Midlands region of the UK, in advance of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and celebrating the Queen’s Baton Relay arriving in Antigua & Barbuda.
If you would like to be involved, please contact events@cweic.org
 

 

26 – 29 May   Canada – UK Queen’s Baton Relay Roundtable
Time TBC A virtual roundtable connecting companies from Canada and the West Midlands region of the UK, in advance of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and celebrating the Queen’s Baton Relay arriving in Canada.
If you would like to be involved, please contact events@cweic.org
 

 

28 July   Commonwealth Games Business Forum – Birmingham, UK
TBC Held alongside the opening of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, a business and government conference to promote trade and investment across the Commonwealth, utilising the convening power of the Commonwealth Games.
We will be in touch shortly to discuss how you may want to be involved.
 

 

Q2/3 2022   Commonwealth Business Forum – Kigali, Rwanda
    The Commonwealth Business Forum is expected to be held in Rwanda, during 2022, alongside the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. We expect dates to be announced shortly as Commonwealth Heads of Government conclude their consultations.