29 June 2016
The Government of Jersey has become a strategic partner to the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), attending a meeting of its Advisory Board today (29 June) in London.
The CWEIC exists to facilitate increased trade and investment across the Commonwealth with the support of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
As well as organising key Commonwealth events such as the Commonwealth Business Forum and Commonwealth Trade Ministers’ meetings, the CWEIC oversees a range of programmes on economic governance and good business practice, infrastructure investment, supporting SMEs to access new markets, women in business and youth entrepreneurship.
Senator Philip Ozouf, Assistant Chief Minister for Financial Services, Digital, Innovation and Competition, will represent the Island on the Advisory Board of the CWEIC.
Speaking after today’s meeting of the Advisory Board, Senator Ozouf said: “The Commonwealth makes up around a third of the global population and includes some of the fastest growing and most dynamic economies in the world. At a time when there is increased focus on building new trading relationships around the world, our membership of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council will enable Jersey to benefit from this significant opportunity.
“Jersey has always been a proud and active partner to the Commonwealth family through our links with the UK, the British crown and the fifty three member countries of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth is a vitally important network through which knowledge and expertise can be shared between nations for the benefit of all.
“The CWEIC’s immense global reach enables multilateral coordination of trade, which in Jersey’s case means financial and increasingly, digital services. We look forward to engaging actively in the work programme of the CWEIC, including the Commonwealth Trade Ministers’ Meeting and the Commonwealth Business Forum, alongside the Heads of Government Meeting, which I was proud to attend in 2015.
“It will also enable us, through its range of programmes across the Commonwealth, to share our experience and expertise, playing our part in tackling corruption and promoting good business practice internationally.”
Lord Marland, Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, said: “The Government of Jersey is a valuable addition to the CWEIC at this critical time for the organisation.
“As an advisory board member, we will be looking to Jersey – represented by Senator Ozouf – to help shape the agenda of the upcoming Commonwealth Trade Ministers meeting (March 2017) and Commonwealth Business Forum (March 2018), working closely with the Governments of Malta and the UK in their capacity as current and in-coming Chairs-in Office of CHOGM.
“We look forward to working with the Government of Jersey to promote and strengthen trade links across the Commonwealth, as well as to drawing on Jersey’s knowledge and expertise for our current and future programmes, particularly in developing states across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.”
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