Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey
The newly elected Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has pledged a bold new trade agenda for the 56-member bloc, promising to break down trade barriers and unlock shared prosperity for all member states.
Delivering her first external address at the Commonwealth Trade & Investment Summit 2025 at Mansion House in London, the Secretary-General declared that trade would be “a central priority” under her leadership, vowing to move from rhetoric to results.
“We intend to tackle trade barriers, strengthen digital inclusion, support small businesses, and open investment opportunities in key sectors — from infrastructure and agriculture to energy transition and e-commerce,” she announced.
The summit was held under the theme: “A Commonwealth That Delivers: Trade, Transformation and Shared Prosperity.”
Referencing the recent wave of sweeping global tariffs, some of which target Commonwealth countries directly, Ms. Ayorkor Botchwey stressed the urgency of unity and cooperation.
“The sweeping tariffs implemented last week shook markets around the world. Some target Commonwealth countries directly. All of us are affected,” she stressed.
“This is very far from business as usual. And business as usual wasn’t working for the Commonwealth,” she said, adding, “When others raise barriers, we build bridges.”
The Secretary-General also highlighted the unique “Commonwealth Trade Advantage,” noting that trade among Commonwealth nations is 21% cheaper, thanks to shared legal systems, language, and historical ties.
However, she insisted that this advantage must now be turned into opportunity — especially for small states, landlocked countries, and underrepresented businesses.
Ms. Ayorkor Botchwey said her trade vision rests on three pillars: inclusion, innovation, and investment.
She called for a more inclusive system that enables all 2.7 billion Commonwealth citizens to participate meaningfully in global markets, backed by digital trade reforms and targeted financing for entrepreneurs — especially women and youth.
She also set her sights on the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua & Barbuda next year, framing the summit as a starting gun in the race toward actionable outcomes.
“For the first time, Ministers, CEOs, SMEs and development institutions will sit side-by-side to develop real, practical solutions,” she said, previewing the Commonwealth Business Summit scheduled for June in Namibia.
“This is our moment,” she concluded. “The only barrier to success is the fear of thinking big. We can and must turn our shared values into shared prosperity.”
The summit, attended by key figures including Lord Marland, the Lord Mayor of London, and Dr. Hussain Ali Mwinyi, the President of Zanzibar, is expected to shape trade and investment policy ahead of CHOGM 2026.
By Ernest Kofi Adu