Angela has been working in the field we now call digital inclusion since 1997. She has helped physically set up computer labs in underserved areas, managed broadband conferences, conducted research, managed digital inclusion programs, assisted with the Department of Commerce’s Broadband Adoption Toolkit, testified before a U.S. Senate Sub-Committee and more. In 2015, Angela helped found NDIA.

Government Technology Magazine named Angela one of their Top 25 Doers, Dreams, and Drivers of 2019.

In her words, “In 2013, on behalf of OCLC, I led an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funded project supporting communities piloting Building Digital Communities: A Framework to Action. In early 2014, I conducted research for the Center for Digital Inclusion at the University of Illinois for another IMLS funded project – Inclusive Gigabit Libraries”.

Conceived as a national advocate for federal policy, NDIA, under Siefer’s leadership, works with a growing number of local governments nationwide. 

Local leaders now seek out the NDIA to help ensure residents have equitable access to laptops, smartphones, broadband and Wi-Fi, and to the skills they need to operate them. Issues of digital inclusion have crept into city departments nationwide, from housing and health to economic development. Essentially, tech is now a vital part of everybody’s life, so much so that cities must help get it to all residents. Siefer and the NDIA help local governments act as facilitators for community groups and libraries, which have long been on the front lines of inclusion. They do so through advice, best practices, benchmarking and fostering information sharing among stakeholders in the space.  

NDIA’s noteworthy efforts include establishing firm definitions of digital inclusion and equity, bringing attention to digital redlining and supporting an ongoing push for federal policy to fund digital inclusion. It’s a natural extension of work she’s done for decades. Siefer has helped physically set up computer labs in underserved areas, consulted on broadband opportunity networks, written grant applications, assisted with the Department of Commerce’s broadband adoption toolkit, and more. One gets a sense that as with technology, digital inclusion work is ever-evolving, and it’s nice to know Siefer and the NDIA are helping local communities and their governments keep up.

Join us in Toronto to learn from Siefer’s digital inclusion experience for your city, community and organisation. 

Visit www.commonwealthafrica.eventbrite.co.uk to register or for more information about our other Forum in New York, London and Sierra Leone. 

The Planning Committee of the Africa Forum Toronto 2019 is delighted to begin the release of our TAF Canada 2019 Speakers Information, with the announcement of UNCTAD Senior Economist Rashmi Banga as a Speaker at the 2nd edition of the Forum holding from the 13th – 15th September 2019 at the Ontario Investment and Trade Center in Toronto. 

Dr. Rashmi Banga is currently a Senior Economist in United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD-India). She received her doctorate, M. Phil and Masters degrees from Delhi School of Economics, India. She was an Associate Professor in School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), India. She has taught in Delhi University, Jesus and Mary College for 15 years. She has also been a consultant to Indian Council for Research in International Economic Relations (ICRIER) and has worked extensively on various trade policy-related issues. She has undertaken professional works with several international organizations like UNDP, World Bank, GDN, ARTNet, IDRC, etc.

Her PhD thesis on “Nature, Pattern and Impact of Japanese and U.S. FDI on India” has been awarded International Economic Development Research Annual (IEDRA) Award2005 by EXIM Bank of India. She has been a recipient of Gold Medal in Global  development Network (GDN), sponsored by World Bank, for two consecutive years (i.e., 2003 and 2004). 

She has published papers in leading economics and business journals. She is a board member of Academy of International Business (AIB), Michigan University, ‘Chapter for India.

Some of her research topics includes Linking into Global Value Chains Is Not Sufficient: Do You Export Domestic Value Added Contents?, South-South Digital Cooperation for Industrialization: A Regional Integration Agenda, Is India Digitally Prepared for International Trade?

We look forward to seeing you in Toronto. Register on commonwealthafrica.eventbrite.co.uk or www.casevents.org/tafcanada2019 

The Africa Forum Toronto 2019 is delighted to have Katie Sullivan as one of our 2019 Speakers. 

Katie serves as Managing Director of IETA, the premier global multi-sector business voice for the intersection of markets and climate change. For two decades, IETA’s mission has been to support durable climate policies and financial structures that attract private sector engagement and capital at scale. On behalf of IETA’s 150+ corporate members, Katie leads efforts to inform market solutions to address environmental challenges across Canada and globally. She also manages IETA’s growing climate finance, aviation and digital innovation sustainability initiatives. Katie currently sits on the University of Toronto’s Environmental Finance Committee, the 2019 International Student Energy Summit’s Advisory Panel, Canada’s International Carbon Capture & Storage Knowledge Centre Board, Ivey Foundation’s Climate Advisory Group, Biological Carbon Canada Advisory Group, and Blockchain for Climate’s Advisory Panel. Prior to IETA, Katie worked as a Senior Consultant at ICF International. Katie has recently been recognized as a Clean16 and Clean50 award recipient for contributing to Clean Capitalism Leadership in Canada. 

Katie is THE subject matter expert on all things carbon pricing in the Americas and the Pacific Rim, leading the charge to let the market determine the best ways to innovate to eliminate carbon pollution. She has helped shape effective job, investment and business-friendly climate plans, policies and financial structures, leading to billions of dollars in investment in the emerging low-carbon economy. 

At the Toronto Forum, Katie will be speaking around POWERING AFRICA’S INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH GREEN FINANCE.

To Join Katie in Toronto, register on commonwealthafrica.eventbrite.co.uk or find more information at www.casevents.org/tafcanada2019 

SEE YOU IN TORONTO

Ms. Sonia Marville-Carter is the representative of the Government and people of Barbados in Canada as Consul General at Toronto. 

Having spent 9 fulfilling years in the public sector in the role of Personal Assistant to 2 Ministers of the Government of Barbados from 1999- 2008, she went on to serve at the United Nations as Special Assistant to Ms. H. Elizabeth Thompson in her post as Assistant Secretary General and was based in New York. Her time spent in the capacity of Special Assistant afforded her the opportunity to play a significant role as part of a strategic team of organizers for the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development held in Brazil in 2012. That conference attracted participation from 192 UN member states and included some 57 Heads of State and 31 Heads of Government, private sector companies, Non-Governmental Organisations and other groups. 

A graduate of the University of the West Indies with a Masters in Sociolinguistics, and a Diploma in Business with an emphasis on Marketing, she has 23 years’ experience in the private sector. During those years Ms. Marville-Carter undertook several significant roles in administration, marketing, human resources, public relations, publishing, sustainable development and energy. 

Consul General Marville-Carter held portfolios of Managing Director of M3 Management Consultants, as well as Human Resources Co-ordinator for L.M.Konnections Inc. which is a management company for FLOW Barbados. A well-rounded person who enjoys interacting with people, Consul General Marville-Carter has a working knowledge of both French and Spanish, was an English Language Teacher and has been a member and soloist in the Methodist Church circuit for many years. She was an avid volleyball player, playing at first division level and functioned in the capacity of President of the Hoyte’s Village Volleyball Club. She swam competitively and was a member of the Barbados Dance Theatre for approximately 8 years. 

Consul General Marville-Carter sees the diaspora as a vibrant agent in the transformation and promotion of Barbados and the Caribbean throughout the world and is committed to doing what is necessary to further the development of relations between Canada and Barbados. Identifying and maximizing trade, Labour and other economic opportunities of mutual benefit to both Barbados and Canada are exceedingly important to her. 

To join Consul General Marville-Carter at The Africa Forum in Toronto, or to register for other editions of The Africa Forum in other parts of the world, VISIT COMMONWEALTHAFRICA.EVENTBRITE.CO.UK 

Keynote Address by Ambassador Gibril Santigie Moseray Fadika at the Commonwealth Africa Summit, held in London, UK from the 14th – 16th March 2016.
• H.E Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria
• Excellencies
• Honourable Ministers
• Members of Parliament
• Representative from the Commonwealth
• Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

Greetings from Sierra Leone! It gives me great pleasure to be present at this summit today and to address you all. I wish to express my gratitude to the Commonwealth and the organisers for hosting the Commonwealth Africa Summit and for the warm hospitality extended to me and my delegation.

We are meeting at a momentous time – just after the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Commonwealth is at a critical moment in its history, with the appointment of a new Secretary General—this time a dynamic female in the person of Baroness Scotland. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Baroness Scotland on her appointment, which I am certain inspires a new dawn for the commonwealth. We need to grasp this moment with both hands!

Excellencies, delegates, Africa’s shared prosperity and mutual security lies in our hands and collective efforts. I am very pleased to be here today representing the business side of the house, and to explore Africa’s role in the Commonwealth, taking into account the dynamic changes that are taking place at regional and international levels.

According to the 2015 UN World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) Report, the global economy is expected to grow marginally over the next two years. The average growth forecast for 2015 was 3.1{67d67eabf81d41f265898c4176f0411672aae35734b6d79ac4721e6c4501aa8f} and 3.3{67d67eabf81d41f265898c4176f0411672aae35734b6d79ac4721e6c4501aa8f} for 2016, compared to the growth estimate of 2.6{67d67eabf81d41f265898c4176f0411672aae35734b6d79ac4721e6c4501aa8f} realised in 2014.
Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth was expected in 2015 to strengthen to 4.5{67d67eabf81d41f265898c4176f0411672aae35734b6d79ac4721e6c4501aa8f}, and 5{67d67eabf81d41f265898c4176f0411672aae35734b6d79ac4721e6c4501aa8f} in 2016 after subdued expansion in 2013 (3.5{67d67eabf81d41f265898c4176f0411672aae35734b6d79ac4721e6c4501aa8f}) and 2014 (3.9{67d67eabf81d41f265898c4176f0411672aae35734b6d79ac4721e6c4501aa8f}). The 2014 growth was about one percentage point lower than predicted by the African Economic Outlook (AEO), as the global economy remained weaker and some African countries saw severe domestic problems of various natures. But the world economy is improving and if the African Economic Outlook’s 2015 predictions were right, Africa will soon be closing in on the impressive growth levels seen before the 2008/09 global economic crisis.

West Africa achieved relatively high growth of 6{67d67eabf81d41f265898c4176f0411672aae35734b6d79ac4721e6c4501aa8f} in 2014 despite its battle with the Ebola virus. My country, Sierra Leone experienced a major crisis due to the impact of the Ebola epidemic, and the associated damage to communities and livelihoods. The Economy was hit the hardest, with business closures and rising unemployment further devastating a country that had not too long emerged from a decade of civil conflict. Our business was seriously affected.

As co-founder and Executive Chairman, I was greatly involved in the work of African Minerals Limited, but the company was forced into administration due to the Ebola crisis. We worked very hard to rescue the mining sector and brought in new investments. We survived! Now we have Shandong Steel SL Ltd, and Pan African Minerals Ltd, working in 16 countries in Africa. We appreciate the support provided and are grateful to the Commonwealth, the international community and patriotic Sierra Leoneans in tackling the Ebola Virus. Together, we defeated Ebola!

Another significant challenge faced by Africa is extreme poverty. Youth unemployment is a major challenge in many countries. African countries need to create millions of jobs over the next decade to absorb people entering the labour market. With almost 200 million people aged between 15 and 24, Africa has the youngest population in the world. And it keeps growing rapidly. Although many jobs have been created, there have not been enough job opportunities to accommodate the number of young people in search of work. This is a major threat to our efforts to secure shared prosperity and mutual security.

Africa’s population is rising the fastest. The pressure to provide decent work opportunities for new labour market entrants will be particularly acute in Africa. Promoting more and better jobs for inclusive growth, the rural economy, formalising the informal economy and addressing the needs of African economies is crucial for Africa’s development. Climate change and deplorable environmental practices must be top on our agenda and we must all come together to tackle climate change and protect the environment for generations yet unborn. Energy for Africa is crucial. Without energy, African countries will find it difficult to compete with the rest of the world.

The African Economic Outlook finds the continent poised to resume its medium-term growth trend. However, looking beyond 2016, a number of internal and external factors may alter the context in which African policy-makers seek to accelerate growth and deepen structural transformation. African economies have to take those changes into account and adapt their development strategies accordingly.
We should emulate best practices from developed nations and adapt them to our local context. What can we learn from China/Asia and other developed nations?
• Promote and protect African businesses, and attract foreign investments.
• Invest in technology. Technology is the only way forward.
• Harness and put our natural resources into good use.
• A visionary leadership, disciplined economic management and a radical economic transformation agenda.
• Support rural cooperatives, agriculture and small businesses.
• Invest in energy, especially solar energy, as China is doing.
• Invest in education, health, and infrastructural development.
• Empower girls and women, and create jobs for youth.
• Advance democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
• Tackle corruption, promote accountability and participatory governance.

In a rapidly changing world, there is a need for us to create better opportunities for people in the Commonwealth, so we can contribute fully to sustainable social and economic development across the region. Investing in young people, ensuring decent employment, education and health prospects, promoting democracy, and creating an enabling environment where creativity, leadership and energy can flourish, will invariably lay the foundations for a more prosperous, healthier and stronger Africa.

I am therefore pleased to be part of the Commonwealth Africa initiative which will play an important global leadership role in advancing the African agenda. The Commonwealth Africa Summit is an important platform for Africa to engage, inspire and mobilise resources and partnerships for Africa’s development.

We must work together to end conflicts in Africa, and dedicate our efforts in promoting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law for a better Africa. Let’s use this opportunity to create a unified and influential voice, to champion the African agenda across all policy areas, within our Commonwealth, national governments, and globally.

Africa’s unique needs, and our broad ability to contribute, should be integrated and valued in development and democratic processes at global level. Let’s walk away with a clear understanding that Africa is moving forward. We should all champion this development and create a better world. Business and political leaders have a critical role in building a stable and sustainable future that will benefit all of us. Africa needs honest and dynamic leaders that can provide insightful directions. We can do better than China!

I am therefore hopeful that this meeting will, amongst other things, result in a clarion call for a stronger recognition of the important role of Africa as an agent of change, and as a driver of development in the Commonwealth. We must commit unequivocally to investing in the Commonwealth Africa Initiative and placing Africa at the centre of sustainable and inclusive development, thus harnessing our creativity, leadership and social capital towards the progress and resilience of Commonwealth countries, and a more democratic and prosperous Commonwealth.

We are born poor, but we must not die poor. I thank you all!

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/lot-west-can-learn-africa-obasanjo/

The 2017 Commonwealth Africa Summit is an annual Summit organised as part of the activities to celebrate the Commonwealth Week in London. Ms Mbete was invited to speak during the Parliamentary Roundtable on Fostering Collective Growth through People Centred Legislation in the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Africa Summit is a high level, multi-stakeholder event that annually brings together government and business leaders from across the Commonwealth, Africa and allied nations to facilitate dialogue and action on key and relevant issues

ranging from trade and investment, enterprenership and job creation, economic development, security and counterterrorism, energy and power among other matters relevant to Africa. 

 FOSTERING COLLECTIVE GROWTH THROUGH PEOPLE-CENTRED LEGISLATION IN THE COMMON WEALTH 13 MARCH 2017

PROGRAMME DIRECTOR
HONOURABLE MEMBERS
DISTIGUISHED GUESTS
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

It is a humbling experience and great honour to be afforded an opportunity to share my thoughts with fellow legislators and other eminent persons on the pressing need to foster collective growth through people centred legislation.  The topic is much more relevant today than ever due to the growing income inequalities between the rich and the poor globaly, compounded by the  growing refugee crisis occasioned   mainly by civil wars in the Middle East.  We need to reflect on whether the people are at the centre of our collective efforts as legislators and whether they are the ultimate beneficiaries of the law making process in general.

I had to reflect deeply on this topic and chose to draw inspiration from a simple but yet profound statement made by one of the greatest African Statesman, Julius Kambarage Nyerere.  He said the following, “If real development is to take place, the people have to be involved”.   Embedded in this statement is the view that the people must always be at the centre of the legislative process and must be the main beneficiaries.

The Commonwealth provides an appropriate platform to reflect on the work we have done individually and collectively as legislators coming from the whole area called the “Commonwealth”.  The critical question we need to pose to ourselves, as law makers, is whether we have been true to the commitments and declarations we have made in the Charter of the Commonwealth with regards to sustainable development.

Allow me to quote extensively from the Charter.  The Charter reads as follows with regards to sustainable development:

“We stress the importance of sustainable economic and social transformation to eliminate poverty and meet the basic needs of the vast majority of the people of the World and reiterate that economic and social progress enhances the sustainability of democracy.  We are committed to removing wide disparities and unequal living standards as guided by internationally agreed development goals”.

The Charter is correct and relevant in underlining the importance of internationally agreed development goals.

The United Nations sustainable development goals provide the basis of our common effort to foster collective growth through people-centred legislation among the Commonwealth Countries.  The United Nations sustainable development goals give a measurable and concrete expression to the declarations stipulated also in the Commonwealth Charter.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we need to revert to the question I posed earlier regarding the impact and relevance of the laws we pass in our normal course of work, to the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. As Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chair of the Speaker’s Forum of the Republic of South Africa, I have commissioned a High Level Panel led by the former President, His Excellency Kgalema Motlanthe, to traverse the length and breath of South Africa to assist us in understanding the impact of our legislation on the lives of our people.   Establishing the High Level Panel was guided by our abiding view that our people are central to our legislative work and that they are the motive force for the struggle for the attainment of deep and lasting transformation of the lives of our people for the better.

Programme Director, allow me to remind ourselves of the various elements of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.  I have to do so recognising that the Commonwealth Charter has made specific declarations with regards to gender equality, access to health, education, food and shelter.

I also believe its appropriate to turn our collective eye on issues affecting women as we have just marked International Women’s Day.  The Commission on the Status of Women is currently sitting in New York.

The Charter states the following with regards to gender equality  “We recognise that gender equality and women’s empowerment are essential components of human development and basic human rights.  The advancement of women’s rights and the education of girls are critical preconditions for effective and sustainable development”.

Having cited the Charter, I would like to deal with a particular issue that deeply troubles and shocks me.  The issue related to honour killings of women.  As an activist and freedom fighter, I am really aggrieved by the so-called “honour killings” of women.  There is no honour in killing your own sister for marrying a lover of her choice.  The family honour and democratic values we deeply cherish cannot be associated with the taking of a life.   Punitive legislation has to be passed to deal harshly with perpetrators of this kind of crime.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) correctly states that “ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls is not only a basic human right, but it is also crucial to accelerating sustainable development.  It has been proven time and again, that empowering women and girls has a multiplier effect, and helps drive up economic growth and development across the board”.

As legislatures we must undertake, as stipulated by the UNDP, reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources.  We need to share experiences on how we have dealt with this matter as different Commonwealth Countries.   That shared experience should provide a basis for collaborative efforts in this area.  It is only through collaborative work that we can foster collective growth with the people at the centre.

Ladies and Gentlemen we have all witnessed the rising income inequalities in our societies.  The UNDP indicates that the richest 10 per cent are earning up to 40 percent of total global income whilst the poorest 10 percent earn only between 2 percent and 7 percent of total global income.  Clearly, these levels of inequalities are unsustainable and pose a serious threat to the stability of our societies and legitimacy of our democracies.

Therefore, I fully support the UNDP’s goals of reducing inequalities by removing discriminatory laws, policies and providing appropriate legislation among other interventions.   We need to share experiences on how different Commonwealth countries have attempted to address this challenge.  I need to concede that South Africa is confronted with these problems even on a more complex scale.  Generally, income inequality in South Africa is defined and accentuated along clear racial and class lines.  We have attempted to pass various legislations to empower women, people with disabilities and historically disadvantaged groups.

It is really an uphill battle to undo decades and centuries of racial oppression and exploitation that is further compounded by gender discrimination.

We will not be able to achieve collective growth we so much desire if we fail to stem the illegal outflow of money from developing countries   The 4^th Joint African Union Commission/United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning Economic Development held in 2011, established the High Level Panel on Illicit Financial flows from Africa.  According to the Report of the High Level Panel, it is estimated that more than $50 billion (i.e. 50 Billion US Dollars) is leaving Africa illegally on an annual basis.  This is money that could have been used to develop the continent’s social and economic infrastructure.

These illegal outflows originates mainly from three channels: commercial activities, criminal and corrupt government practices.   The commercial channel involves serious tax evasion activities.  It is reported that commercial activities are by far the largest contributor to unlawful financial outflows from Africa, followed by organised crime.  Public sector corrupt activities is the third contributor to these illegal financial outflows from Africa.

Therefore, it is important that we share experiences on how other Commonwealth countries are combating these practices through tax legislation and other anti-money laundering legislation.  I can report that South Africa is in the final stages of amending its anti-money laundering legislation.  The ultimate victims of these illegal practices are the poor and vulnerable in society.  The erosion of African Countries tax base ultimately hurt the poor and undermine all efforts to attain the United National Social Development Goals.   We have to be united and act with determination in the fight against these illegal outflows and money laundering activities.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the challenges and possible corrective actions I have outlined enjoin us to place our people at the centre of all our legislative processes.  I need to caution that if we ignore the cries and plight of our people, we will put our democracies in jeopardy and destabilise our countries.

In spite of all the challenges I have pointed out, the work done by Commonowealth countries with regards the to the implementation of sustatinable development goals is worthy of praise and admiration. Maternal mortality has been reduced drastically since 2000. Millions of lives have been saved from malaria. The enrolment of children in primary education in developing regions has reached 91 percent in 2015. The number of people living in extreme poverty has declined. It is reported that many developing countries who persistently experienced famine and hunger in the past are now able to meet the the nutrional needs of the most vulnerable in society. I have the strongest conviction that we will achieve the UN sustainable delopment goals.

I am pleased to report that the implementation of Agenda 2063 for Africa is on course in spite of the global economic challenges. Africans are determined to unleash the full potential of their women and youth. Africa is committted to mordernise its infrastructure and ensure the structural transformation of its economy in order to create shared growth, decent jobs and economic opportunities for all. There is renewed determination to build ports, power stations, under-sea cables connecting Africa with the rest of the world, telecommunication networks  and efficient rail infrastructure across most African countries. Our confidence is based on concrete evidence showing the deepening of democracy, rule of law and strengthened institutional capacity in most African states. Therefore we declare with great confidence that the future of most African countries is looking bright and Africa is on course to achieve the objectives of Agenda 2063.

Let me conclude my input by drawing inspiration  from the wise counsel of another great African leader, statesman and icon, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. He said the following “ I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my walk is not ended.”

Ladies and gentlemen, we have achieved great things acting together as Commonwealth countries. I am confident that our unity will propel us to even more greater heights. However we dare not linger on our achievements, for much is expected from us. The Commonwealth must grow from strength to strength, climbing even more hills and hillocks along the way. Certainly, as individuals , we will look back at the twilight years of our lives and rest with a smile beaming from our face knowing that we have served our fellow country men and women with utmost dedication. Without doubt, history will reflect positively on our efforts and it will be recorded that we gave it our all.

I thank you.

SOURCE: https://www.parliament.gov.za/news/speaker-addresses-commonwealth-africa-summit-2017

But the heir to the British throne will have an even more important task at hand, that is, to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the Commonwealth Summit in London in March next year, signalling the importance the UK attaches to India’s role in this multilateral group.

Importance of India

Britain is especially keen to see Indian participation at the prime ministerial level given that Indian PMs have been absent from the last three summits, sending others instead to represent the country. This is perhaps an indication of the low priority New Delhi attaches to the Commonwealth despite affirming the continuing relevance of this comity of 52 nations. Even Modi who has criss-crossed the globe as part of his diplomatic outreach, chose to skip the last CHOGM held in 2015 in Malta and sent external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj instead to the biennial meet.

Modi’s predecessor Manmohan Singh too gave the CHOGM meets in 2011 and 2013 a miss. In 2011, UPA-2 cited other pressing engagements abroad for PM Singh’s absence from the Summit in Perth, Australia, while in 2013 he was forced to boycott the Summit in Sri Lanka owing to domestic pressure from Tamil parties protesting against its human rights record.

But as UK prepares for life post-Brexit and seeks fresh pastures beyond the Continent, it can ill-afford to allow this state of affairs to continue. More so as it is looking to leverage the Commonwealth in general and India in particular to boost trade.

Trade and services ties 

Post-Brexit, the two countries want to expand their bilateral trade which was pegged at $14.02 billion in 2015-16. The two sides have also been looking to work out a trade deal. According to a Commonwealth report titled ‘The Commonwealth in the Unfolding Global Trade Landscape’, trade within this grouping was pegged at $592 billion in 2013 and is projected to surpass the $1 trillion mark by 2020. Asian members account for 55 per cent of intra-Commonwealth trade with India, Malaysia and Singapore contributing to over half the total intra-Commonwealth goods exports.

A founding member, India is the largest member, and the fourth largest contributor to its budget after the UK, Australia and Canada. Besides, India shares close ties with many Commonwealth members including the African nations and island states.

It will be incumbent upon the UK to address the growing scepticism among members. Many member states believe its sustainability, relevance and efficacy has deteriorated.

As the UK works to persuade India into playing a greater role in the Commonwealth, it needs to tell New Delhi what it stands to gain. Among the reasons put forth by PM May’s government for India to throw its weight behind the Commonwealth is that it can generate more influence for itself and increase its soft power.

New Delhi clearly would want something more substantive from the UK in return for backing it on the Commonwealth reforms front. A sticking point between the two governments has been restrictive visas for Indian students and IT professionals. It was an issue that cast a shadow over Prime Minister Theresa May’s visit to India in November last year with New Delhi making it clear that nothing less than a relaxation in visa norms would work for it.

However, with 10 Downing firm in its resolve not to grant concessions, it’s unlikely to bag a trade pact with India. And is likely to find the pitch queered vis-à-vis its endeavour to have India’s strong support to revitalise the Commonwealth.

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/commonwealth-crucial-for-postbrexit-uk/article9944130.ece

She warned her concerns were echoed by New Zealand, India and Canada.

Under the proposals which Theresa May outlined to fellow leaders in June, all EU nationals who have been in the UK for five years will be entitled to “settled status”, granting them the same rights as their British neighbours to healthcare, education, welfare benefits and pensions.

Those with a shorter period of residency will be able to stay on to reach the five-year threshold and others arriving after a yet-to-be-defined cut-off date will have a “grace period” to regularise their status.

Ms Bishop has demanded the same rights as those offered to the EU – meaning, Australians will have a greater right to remain in the UK.

Mrs May said her plans “Give those three million EU citizens in the UK certainty about the future of their lives and we want the same certainty for the more than one million UK citizens who are living in the European Union.”

The Home Office has plans to give European citizens wanting to work in Britain after Brexit a soft touch immigration option.

They would not need to apply for visas but their employers would need to get a work permit. This way, the government would be able to control the number of permits issued.

However, many Commonwealth countries fear the system would penalise their citizens. They have to have secured a job and have a visa at hand to ensure that they can come to England.

Australians have to obtain a visa to allow them to stay in the UK for five years – but are only eligible if they have secured a skilled job, with a £25,000 salary.

At least 137,000 EU citizens came to work in the UK last year.

Figures show that there were at least 157,000 Australians and New Zealand working in the UK.

But many commonwealth countries are hoping that the process could be streamlined.

The Indian government said the new immigration rules had raised concern.

India’s Irudaya Rajan, an adviser to the Indian government said: “Mobility issues are of importance to us.

“We cannot separate free movement of people from the free flow of goods, services and investments.

Right now, the UK needs both friends and friends of friends. Post-Brexit, the UK Government aims to rebuild and make the most of the many long relationships its country has around the world – best represented by the Commonwealth of 52 nations.

The world is a complex jungle of competing interests and issues. Winning advantage is, for now at least, an economic battleground more than the exercise of military might that helped build the British Empire. The game is now all about trade and investment alliances, and here the Commonwealth undoubtedly offers much: shared language, similar legal systems, long established ties of families and businesses. It all makes even far flung Fiji seem oddly like home.

The world, however, has got very complicated. Just a glance at the immense landscape of Asia (which includes valuable Commonwealth friends) shows a constant tension between the US, China and Russia as each seeks to protect its interests or extend its reach.

The New Silk Road
One specific development that shows how the future of Asia may unfold is the New Silk Road; the “One Belt, One Road” strategy of China. The economic battleground I mentioned is being shaped by the capacity of China to fund and build the infrastructure badly needed across much of Central and South East Asia. Perhaps this embodies a modern interpretation of the ancient and wise Chinese military strategy (as per Sun Tzu’s The Art of War) that it is supreme excellence to break the enemy’s resistance without fighting.

The capacity of the UK for successful international trade is undoubted, though the challenge is far greater for SMEs seeking new markets

The transport links (rail, road and sea) China is developing should improve the growth prospects of many countries touched by the country’s engine of economic success; an engine running on infrastructure development, and the resultant resource and trade advantages.

While the EU fights its own internal battles and addresses Brexit, and the US appears largely preoccupied with the issues created by its own president, China pushes hard for strategic business linkage with the resource-rich Asian nations that need infrastructure for economic growth. In Central Asia even Russia finds it hard to compete with the Chinese, who have an extraordinary pace of investment for development and economic collaboration.

Making the most of British know-how
As the UK faces a future outside the EU – a future focused more on its historic role in world trade – it also has to face up to the fast reshaping of international relations, which is changing the opportunities in the years ahead. Gunboat diplomacy is not today an option for the UK, but that does not rule out global trading success.

The capacity of the UK for successful international trade is undoubted, though the challenge is far greater for small and medium sized businesses seeking new markets than for the multinationals that are already well positioned for international business. A vital step for the UK Government will be to create an ecosystem that will help British SMEs enter markets new to them most effectively; SMEs are, across the world, the main future source of innovation, growth and job creation.

Right now, the message from the UK to its subjects and businesses is “Britain needs you!”. It is aimed in particular at its multinationals with global trading know how, and at the many experienced and perhaps retired British corporate executives and public servants who have worked across the world in their careers; they will have gained valuable insights that could now help UK SMEs build their businesses across the world and achieve growth. Can the UK mobilise all this expertise to help its SMEs?

Trading potential in ASEAN
Decades of looking so much to the EU as the easiest and nearest market may have stunted the UK’s development in trade with many of the fastest growing economies on the planet, but the old Commonwealth ties still hold good across many countries who may be very important to the UK’s future.

One region in particular where the UK has huge potential is the ASEAN countries of South East Asia. The opportunity is there for the UK and other Commonwealth countries in the region (Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore) to collaborate in trade across the whole ASEAN region (with its 650 million people) for mutual benefit.

British SMEs can, in the 21st century, still find many friends in the Commonwealth who welcome UK trade with and through them

Britain needs its friends in the region to show it the way and help open doors. But Britain also needs to be humble. It is no longer empire building but goodwill and mutual interest that create prosperity. The good news is British SMEs can, in the 21st century, still find many friends in the Commonwealth who welcome UK trade with and through them. Singapore is famously a place where it is easy to establish a business: it advocates strong principles of the rule of law and business integrity, and is a sophisticated city-state serving ASEAN while also well connected with the Commonwealth. The future success of the UK in global trade depends on business collaboration with friends like Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei.

Building trading networks
The UK opportunity is not just business within the Commonwealth itself (as massive a market as it is, with 2.4 billion people, 60 percent of whom are under 30), but also the extensive wider networks of Commonwealth nations, with whom the UK has immense scope to do business through the gateways of its Commonwealth friendships. It is a win win scenario for Commonwealth member nations who can increase their own economic firepower with UK involvement, knowhow, innovative technologies and finance.

The Commonwealth is both a market and a window on a wider world that awaits the UK: the 93 percent of the world population not in the EU.

Nonetheless, it is a world of challenging and competitive markets that will require all the accumulated expertise the UK can throw at it. This is no longer empire building or anything like it; it is planned and purposeful collaboration for mutual benefit. The UK must get its house in order very swiftly to maximise the opportunities for its many ambitious SME businesses.