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India can help the Commonwealth scale up its trade, says Commonwealth Secy General.
Aug 16, 2022

India can play a leadership role in enhancing trade and digital connectivity within the Commonwealth, says Patricia Scotland, secretary-general of the 56-nation club, in an interview to Himani Kothari. Scotland, who visited India last week, says intra-Commonwealth investments have nearly trebled since she took office in 2016 and that she is confident of achieving $2 trillion in annual trade between the member countries by 2030.

What issues did you focus on during your India visit?

I have loved every visit to India, and this visit was no different. This is a remarkable country: a driving force in the Commonwealth and a leader in the wider world. I have enjoyed discussions with ministers, high-level officials and partners in NGOs, international organisations and the private sector on priority issues for India and the Commonwealth, especially how we can work together to implement the clear outcomes from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in June.It is impossible not to be struck by the mutual significance of the relationship between India and the Commonwealth: India is the largest member of the Commonwealth, and the Commonwealth is committed to working closely with India. India's dynamism and innovation offer a large scope of opportunities for collaboration with the other 55 countries in our family. Furthermore, there is an opportunity to explore the natural synergies between India and the rest of the Commonwealth.

What was the intra-Commonwealth trade turnover in 2021 and India's share in that?

India's trade with other Commonwealth members is significant and growing, and India is a key driver of intra-Commonwealth trade in goods and services. While not a formal trading bloc, the Commonwealth trade advantage means our members can enjoy bilateral trade costs which are 20% lower than trade with non-Commonwealth countries, with a near-tripling of intra-Commonwealth investment since I took office as secretary-general.Although India enjoys a healthy share of Commonwealth trade, there are still opportunities to further scale up intra-Commonwealth trade, and we are determined that we will reach our goal of $2 trillion in annual intra-Commonwealth trade by 2030. And last but not least, 60% of the Commonwealth population is under the age of 30. To empower our youth to reach their full potential we must close the digital divide. This week, I spoke at the Management Development Institute in New Delhi about the importance of utilising strategies such as SMART governance to close the digital divide.

What are the areas where you would like India to play a larger role?

India is already an active, engaged Commonwealth member and leads on a range of issues from Covid-19 vaccine distribution to environmental issues. My visit has enabled us to explore ways in which the Commonwealth Secretariat can provide more assistance to India, and where India can play a leadership role within the Commonwealth in areas such as the Blue Charter and Living Lands agendas, intra-Commonwealth trade and enhancing digital connectivity.

There was some innovation in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games, with Esports making its debut...

The Commonwealth Games have always been innovative - it is the most inclusive multi-sport games in the world. Esports is not the only first at the 2022 Commonwealth Games - it is the first major multi-sport games where there were more medals for women than men. I think the Commonwealth Games was a fantastic illustration of the unity and purpose within the Commonwealth, and a great reflection of the Commonwealth's breadth and diversity. I'd like to congratulate India on their 61 medals, finishing 4th overall in medals with 22 gold, 16 silver and 23 bronze. And to Sharath Kamal, a table tennis champion and India's most successful athlete in these games with 4 medals.

m.economictimes.com

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