In October of this year, Samoa is set to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM), making it the first Small Island Developing State from the Pacific to do so.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) is a significant event held every two years. It serves as the primary political gathering of the Commonwealth. In the upcoming meeting, leaders will discuss global economic, environmental, and security challenges, and focus on ways to enhance resilience, boost trade, innovation, growth, and empower the Commonwealth’s 1.5 billion young people to build a more peaceful and sustainable future.
Read: Samoa’s New Project to Help Women and Youth Find Employment in Agriculture and Fisheries Sector
Samoa has been selected as the incoming Chair-In-Office and host of the next CHOGM. It will also be the first meeting since Gabon and Togo officially joined the Commonwealth, increasing the number of member nations to 56. Building on progress since CHOGM 2022, Commonwealth Leaders will deliberate on these issues and work together to achieve their shared goals.
Among the attendees will be Vicki Treadell, the British High Commissioner to Australia and Head of the Oceania network. She aims to amplify Pacific voices to fight climate change.
“How do we modernise the relationship with the Pacific and keep our diplomatic presence across the Pacific,” she asked.
“To be frank and honest, we took our eye off it in this region. It was a strategic mistake, but we want to re-establish these relationships because they matter.”
Read: Commonwealth ministers to meet in New York to lay groundwork for CHOGM summit and COP28
During CHOGM week, there will be meetings of Heads of Government, which will include a retreat exclusively for Commonwealth Leaders. Additionally, there will be meetings of Foreign Ministers and various high-level forums and events that will engage young people, civil society, women, business leaders, and international institutions.
In September 2023, Prime Minister Mataʻafa and the Commonwealth Secretary-General announced further details regarding CHOGM 2024, including the official theme, at the UN General Assembly in New York.
