Staff Reporter
Commonwealth nations have identified energy transition, food security, and the future of critical minerals as priority areas for enhanced cooperation and increased public-private investment.
This is one of the key outcomes of the 2025 Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting (CTMM), held in Windhoek this week. The gathering brought together trade ministers from across the Commonwealth, reaffirming their collective commitment to strengthening intra-Commonwealth trade, fostering sustainable investment, and upholding the multilateral trading system.
Against the backdrop of rising protectionism, climate instability and a fragmented global economy, ministers focused on strategies to harness the Commonwealth’s 21% trade advantage – anchored in shared language, legal frameworks, and trust – to achieve the target of US$2 trillion in intra-Commonwealth trade by 2030.
“We were brave enough to decide to host the inaugural Commonwealth Business Summit, in order to initiate the practical aspects of growing intra-Commonwealth trade to US$2 trillion and beyond. I would like to be brave enough to say we were successful and that our clarion call has been heard,” Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, the Minister of International Relations and Trade, said.
Ministers also endorsed a series of practical measures aimed at boosting trade and investment across the Commonwealth. These included the adoption of the operationalisation plan for the Working Group on Trade and Investment, which outlines priority actions to revitalise trade among member states. Continued support for MSMEs, businesses led by youth and women, and efforts to enhance digital capacity in vulnerable economies were also underscored.
Additionally, ministers welcomed the launch of the Commonwealth Investment Network (CIN), designed to help countries identify viable projects and attract reputable investors. They also recognised progress made on the Commonwealth Model Law on Digital Trade, highlighting its role in easing barriers to cross-border e-commerce.
“Together, we have explored new pathways for deepening intra-Commonwealth trade, enhancing investment, leveraging digital trade, accelerating the sustainable energy transition and building resilient economies. The outcomes of the Windhoek trade ministers’ meeting represent another shining example of the enduring value of Commonwealth collaboration,” Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, added.
