News

Hosted by the Government of the Republic of Namibia, the inaugural Commonwealth Business Summit (CBS) took place in Windhoek from 18–20 June 2025, held on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting (CTMM). The Summit convened business leaders, policymakers, and trade experts from across the Commonwealth to explore pathways to inclusive prosperity through investment, digital transformation, and resilient supply chains.

CWEIC was well-represented at the Summit, with attendees including Mr Olasupo Shasore SAN, Chair of CWEIC’s Nigeria Hub; Mr Obinna Anyanwu, Country Director for Nigeria; Mr Cham Etienne Bama, Hub Director for Cameroon, Gabon, and Togo; and Mr Ben Cobblah, Country Director for Ghana. Their presence underscored CWEIC’s commitment to fostering Commonwealth trade and investment partnerships across Africa.

In her keynote remarks, Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, called for a renewed commitment to connectivity and shared prosperity:

In a world that is fragmenting, the Commonwealth, by conviction and choice, has decided to be the place for connection, partnership, and shared prosperity.

Mr Shasore SAN participated in a high-level panel discussion titled “Commonwealth Trade: Staying the Course to $2 Trillion“, which examined the policies, partnerships, and private sector innovations required to achieve the ambitious target of $2 trillion in intra-Commonwealth trade by 2030.#

The Summit also featured dialogue on boosting trade finance access for SMEs, leveraging digital platforms to expand intra-Commonwealth commerce, and the need for inclusive policies that support least developed and small island states.