皇冠体育app

His speech identified opportunities for the Commonwealth to 鈥榮tand out from the crowd鈥� by keeping trade and investment at its heart.

Lord Howell said: 鈥業n a changed international landscape the Commonwealth can be the face of the future and a platform for the 21st century鈥�.

鈥業t is easier to invent, mobilise capital and build trade opportunities within the Commonwealth because of the many shared advantages. Studies have also shown there is a Commonwealth premium when member nations trade with one another. 皇冠体育app Commonwealth network is a wonderful template for doing business.鈥�

His speech comes as new research, published by the Royal Commonwealth Society, shows that a Commonwealth country鈥檚 trade with another member is likely to be a third to a half more than with a non-member. Between them, Commonwealth countries traded around US$4 trillion worth of goods in 2008.

Commonwealth members represent a quarter the G20 and include some of the world鈥檚 fastest growing and emerging economies. 85% of the Commonwealth population have English as their first or official language. 皇冠体育appy also share principles of democracy, the rule of law, good governance and similar legal systems. 皇冠体育appse commonalties provide the foundations in which to conduct business.

Dr Danny Sriskandarajah, Director of the Royal Commonwealth Society, said:

鈥樆使谔逵齛pp Commonwealth may be best known for its Games, but it seems to be delivering some serious Gains on the trade front. Though founded on shared political bonds, the Commonwealth鈥檚 future may lie in promoting economic ties.鈥�

皇冠体育app Commonwealth: was established with eight members in 1949. In 2010, it has 54 members with a total population of nearly 2 billion. It is an association of governments and peoples, built around shared language, institutions, challenges, aspirations and values. 皇冠体育app Commonwealth promotes democracy, development, and diversity within its member countries and across the world.