As Prime Minister, Patrick Manning in May last year travelled to London for the launch of the Commonwealth Economic Partnerships Forum.
Then, from November 23 to 26, Mr. Manning hosted the conference on the regal Serenade of the Sea yacht, which was leased for events related to the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
In a five-minute address at the London launch, the then-Prime Minister hailed the forum as “reinvigorating Commonwealth economies” and also leading to a “global economic revival.”
He also stated at the event: “It is going to be an inspiring environment for all entrepreneurial spirits present.”
At the conference itself, Mr. Manning said the get-together will “yield practical ideas for enhancing trade, mobilising investments and strengthening economic links between countries of the Commonwealth and global partners.”
He also said that “opportunities for commercial networking through the forum will be highly valuable.”
Just as with next week’s forum, the 2009 conference was attended by a number of international corporate giants, including the chief executive of British Petroleum and Professor Joseph Stiglitz, a former Nobel prize winner for economics.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, as chair of the Commonwealth, is due to attend the 2010 edition of the conference next week, at which some 800 public and private sector leaders will participate.
Ms. Persad-Bissessar’s participation comes in the midst of her high international profile which stems from recent addresses at United Nations, Commonwealth and Caricom forums.
At these meetings, she has detailed her plans for diversification of the economy and pitched for increased investments and trade.
The Commonwealth Secretariat has identified the conference as “an opportune moment to readdress and re-evaluate the economic potential of the Commonwealth.”
The forum is expected to identify areas for action with respect to trade and investment.
There will also be a showcase of expertise and developing of partnerships in such areas as financial services, energy, agriculture, education, information and communication technologies and manufacturing.
“Leveraging these networks is the key to accelerating inter-Commonwealth trade and investment in the future,” the Secretariat said.
The conference will take place at Guildhall, described as the centre of international finance and expertise.
-Reporting by Ken Ali
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