New Delhi: At the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa, the UK announced a series of measures to strengthen trade and investment ties with some of the world’s fastest-growing economies, a UK government release stated.
The announcement made by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy explained that the package of measures is designed to boost intra-Commonwealth trade and investment, empower young people with access to education and skills, support democratic governance, human rights and the rule of law, and help protect vulnerable countries from the impacts of climate change.
Some of the key UK announcements included funding for a Commonwealth Investment Network to encourage greater investment within small and climate-vulnerable Commonwealth countries. The UK announced additional funding for trade advisers to support small and vulnerable Commonwealth members in negotiations within the World Trade Organization.
In a bid to promote clean energy, the UK announced support for Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities in six Pacific Island Countries, which will involve testing the application of clean energy technologies.
Other commitments made by the UK include continued support to the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub, which helps small and vulnerable Commonwealth member states access international funding to tackle climate change. The UK pledged to promote food security, climate resilience, and economic growth in the Caribbean via the Inter-American Development Bank’s One Caribbean fund.
While in Samoa, David Lammy accompanied King and Queen on their bilateral State Visit. Lammy also held bilateral meetings with several world leaders, including Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa of Samoa, Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong of Australia, and Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi of Kenya.