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From our correspondent
Roseau, Dominica – November 03 2026 — Business organizations representing the Caribbean, Africa and South Asia have agreed to work with the Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network (CBWN) on developing a proposed Commonwealth Coalition of Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The agreement was reached during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda, with the Network of Caribbean Chambers of Commerce (CARICHAM), the Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI) and the South Asia (SAARC) Chamber of Commerce and Industry endorsing the initiative.
The proposed coalition is expected to establish stronger connections among business communities across 75 per cent of the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries, with particular attention to some of its fastest-growing economies and youthful populations. The participating organizations said their immediate priority would be to develop a framework and terms of reference outlining the coalition’s structure, governance, financing and intended beneficiaries. They also intend to ensure that the new body complements existing regional and national chamber activities rather than duplicating their work.
The initiative is supported by the potential economic benefits of increased trade among Commonwealth countries. Research by the Commonwealth indicates that trade costs between two member countries are, on average, 21 per cent lower than those involving non-member trading partners, partly because of shared legal systems, language and business practices. Commonwealth leaders have also established a target of reaching US$2 trillion in intra-Commonwealth trade by 2030, an objective reaffirmed by Commonwealth Trade Ministers in 2025.
Each participating regional organization is expected to contribute its own experience and perspective to ensure that the proposed coalition reflects the diversity of the Commonwealth’s business networks. The partners said they would advocate for an inclusive structure that supports chambers at both regional and national levels, provides practical services to businesses and establishes transparent governance and sustainable financing. Discussions on the proposal began at the Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting in Namibia in June 2025 and received further support during the ICC World Chambers Congress in Melbourne in September 2026.
CARICHAM Chair Kiran Maharaj, PACCI Executive Director Kebour Ghenna and SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Secretary General Zulfiqar Ali Butt said businesses across their regions had long recognized the value of Commonwealth connections, but greater cooperation was needed to translate high-level commitments into opportunities for companies engaged in trade. They described the current work as an important preparatory stage in establishing a coalition capable of supporting small businesses, women and young entrepreneurs, particularly amid changing global economic conditions.
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