Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Josephine Ojiambo led a trade delegation at the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference (MC11) on December 10-13, 2017 to raise recognition of the position of small states with regards to trade and climate change
Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Josephine Ojiambo led a trade delegation at the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference (MC11) on December 10-13, 2017 to raise recognition of the position of small states with regards to trade and climate change.
In addition to speaking at three side events held in partnership with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, which discussed trade, climate change and fisheries, Ojiambo also attended a Commonwealth and Trade reception hosted by the UK Secretary of State for International Trade, Liam Fox.
She addressed attendees at the reception, speaking on the importance of the rules-based multilateral trading system and its particular benefits to Commonwealth small states, Least Developed Countries and Sub-Saharan African countries.
The Deputy Secretary-General also referred to the MC11’s year-end review and discussion on trade and climate change, fishing, including harmful fishing subsidies, and the need to move away from a dependence on commodities.
She pressed for sustainability and resilience-building to be put at the forefront of a joint investment programme of action.
Furthermore, Ojiambo highlighted the Commonwealth’s recent successes in trade, including the 2015 Commonwealth Trade Review, Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting and the 2017 Working Group on Trade and Investment.
She concluded: “Trade is the lifeblood for many of our members.
“Working together, we can harness the Commonwealth trade advantage to boost trade, investment and innovation for the benefit of all our citizens – and contribute to greater global prosperity for all.”
