Commonwealth Secretary-General Advocates for Investment Growth

Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey called for greater efforts to convert the economic strengths of the Commonwealth into tangible development outcomes. Speaking at an investment event in Lagos on November 3, 2023, organized in partnership with the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), she urged member states to leverage shared advantages to attract investments and create jobs that drive sustainable growth.

Botchwey noted that the Commonwealth's 56 member countries are interconnected through a common system that supports trade and investment, with a population of 2.7 billion people, 30% of whom represent significant economic opportunities. She emphasized that while the Commonwealth advantages enable trade among member countries at approximately 21% lower costs compared to non-member nations, favorable conditions alone do not automatically translate into prosperity.

The Secretary-General highlighted the need for stronger collaboration to ensure economic opportunities yield measurable results and stressed the importance of building trust and a stable environment to attract long-term capital investment.