: HOST NATION CHOGM 2015

Adding global value By LOUIS GRECH Deputy

ark Twain once said about himself ordinary organisation, but a unique tool for all its that “rumours of my death have been members to share and practise the key values enshrined greatly exaggerated!” Rumours of the in the Commonwealth Charter. death of the Commonwealth have The Commonwealth Charter sets out the similarlyM always been grossly exaggerated. Yet, it is Commonwealth’s core values and commits its leaders now 66 years old. More than that, in recent years the to upholding democracy and human rights, promoting Commonwealth has done much to modernise and tune tolerance and respect, protecting the environment, itself into today’s world. providing citizens with access to health, education and It is therefore my pleasure to extend the welcome food and recognising the positive role of young people of the Maltese Government and our people to HM in promoting these and other values. LOUIS GRECH Queen Elizabeth II, the Heads of Government and all The Commonwealth’s focus on the importance of is the Deputy Prime the delegates who are attending the Commonwealth democracy and the respect for core values creates the Minister and Minister Summit in Malta this year, and to augur that this 23rd conditions in which businesses can prosper, by giving for European Affairs meeting will achieve the objectives set for it. them confidence to invest and trade. This in turn and Implementation of This year’s meeting is being conducted under the creates more jobs and drives greater prosperity. It is the Manifesto. Between theme “Adding Global Value”. Certainly, it is about critical that we work collectively to raise the Charter’s 2004-2013 he served in time that we exploit the Commonwealth’s strengths profile and ensure that its values are upheld across the the . in the international arena to influence political Commonwealth. He has a Masters from issues and bring about change on important global Earlier I made reference to our young people. The the University of trends. But, more than that, many feel that that we majority of the Commonwealth’s population is under Oxford as a Rhodes can have a positive impact on the lives of millions of the age of 30. When I met Secretary General Kamalesh Scholar. Mr Grech was Commonwealth citizens. Sharma last November on the occasion of the one of Air Malta’s Personally, I hope that our Heads of Government launching of CHOGM 2015, I had expressed the belief pioneers, serving as CEO will succeed in committing the Commonwealth to an that the hope for a future sustainable Commonwealth and Chairman of the Air ambitious policy agenda that bequeaths to our young architecture depended on youth and their motivation Malta Group, Chairman of people a life of liberty, dignity and prosperity. The to change, reform and break barriers. Lufthansa Technik, and Commonwealth can also add to global values through I believe one of our challenges is to make the a director of the board its programmes and initiatives. Commonwealth more visible to its young people. In of several companies. The Commonwealth is a fascinatingly diverse group this context, I would like to pay tribute to the work of His awards include the of countries. Its members range from some of the the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP). Since Tourism Personality of largest countries in the world to some of the smallest its foundation in 1973, the CYP has worked diligently the Year in 2002 and island states, and from some of the richest nations to on youth empowerment. Best MEP in 2007. some of the poorest in the world. It is this diversity This year the Youth Forum’s theme is “Adding which gives the Commonwealth its greatest strength Global Value – What Next?” During this and a unique ability to contribute to solutions to many forum, around 400 delegates, not just from the of the world’s current challenges. Commonwealth, will convene to discuss how young Every year we celebrate the essence of this people can contribute and add value to upholding and organisation, one that embraces so many different enhancing the Commonwealth Charter. economic, historical, religious, political and different I encourage the delegates to discuss and agree a way backgrounds. In itself, it is quite a feat to be a member forward how the Commonwealth can help achieve of a community of nations with so many unique the goals of the UN High Level Panel post-2015 features, embracing people living in 53 states spanning development agenda. The ultimate aim is to eradicate six different continents. poverty and transform economies through sustainable Here we need to re-affirm the unifying spirit of the development, thus meeting the outcomes of the Commonwealth – a spirit that breaks through many Commonwealth’s Strategic Plan 2016-17. social, cultural and economic barriers and attains union I am particularly glad that CHOGM 2015 will see 18 through diversity. The Commonwealth is not just any the creation of a brand new Women’s Forum, sitting

FIRST alongside the already established Youth Forum, from the Commonwealth’s programmes are not even Business Forum, and People’s Forum. aware that they owe it to the organisation. Too little The so-called “Women Ahead: Be All that You Can Be”, the theme information on the Commonwealth is available and its chosen for this inaugural Commonwealth Women’s purpose is not explained properly. ‘Common- Forum, shows the organisation’s support for the I believe that it is time to develop a more targeted empowerment of women. We all recognise that the one communications strategy to promote in an effective wealth effect’ billion women who live in the Commonwealth have manner what this community of nations stands for. the potential to change their own economic status, as We could also strengthen the Commonwealth’s role by provides well as that of the communities in which they live, and facilitating the exchange of information in many areas. to enrich the life of those around them. Yet, rampant Some people overlook the fact that the only three member states inequality between women and men continues to EU member states that are also in the Commonwealth hamper women’s ability to improve their lives. are the United Kingdom, Malta and Cyprus. The with a trade I must also mention this year’s Business Forum in Government of Malta believes that in this regard we Malta, whose theme is “Creating a More Prosperous have a strategic role to play. Just like in the various advantage of Commonwealth”. The idea behind it is to seek to EU fora we make it a point to bring to the fore the provide Commonwealth business and enterprise with Mediterranean dimension that can sometimes be between 20 a valuable bridge into the and the overlooked by the larger member states. We do not wider Mediterranean region. ignore the Commonwealth perspective. to 50 per cent The Commowealth’s combined GDP has more than We are fortunate that the nature of the doubled in the last twenty years. It contains some of the Commonwealth is such that we can discuss when trading fastest growing economies that will shape the global Mediterranean affairs against the background of economy of the future. With a middle class that has developments in Africa, arising issues in Asia, and with other expanded by nearly one billion people in the last two opportunities in the Caribbean, whilst discussing decades, and a population that accounts for 30 per cent competing priorities within the European dimension. Common- of the global population, there is no doubt that the It is relevant at this stage to refer to the Migration Commonwealth is a natural place for doing business. Summit that Malta hosted earlier this month. wealth A massive amount of trade is generated every year The vast majority of leaders of EU member states within the Commonwealth. The relative importance attended the Summit, together with a large number countries of intra-Commonwealth trade has also grown of representatives of African countries, some of whom significantly. According to some studies, the so-called will be present at this year’s CHOGM. ‘Commonwealth effect’ provides member states with The Summit has clearly recognised that the first a trade advantage of between 20 to 50 per cent when priority in this human tragedy is to save lives, together trading with other Commonwealth countries. It is with a firm commitment to respect international estimated that more than half of all Commonwealth obligations and human rights. It has also recognised countries now export over a quarter of their total the high degree of interdependence between Africa exports to other Commonwealth states. and Europe, as we face common challenges. There The Commonwealth also provides ready-made links was an overall agreement to address the root causes to other international networks, offering huge scope of irregular migration, and to advance legal migration for partnerships within the Commonwealth to help us and mobility possibilities. Equally, a stated paramount all to compete in regional and international markets. objective is to rekindle hope, notably for African youth. The Commonwealth’s connections, economic growth I am certain that all of the above match the very spirit and commitment to free trade have the potential and essence of the Commonwealth. The members who to contribute significantly to the prosperity of its are attending this CHOGM meeting will easily relate to members. This potential, though, can only be tapped these declarations and should lend their full support to the if we encourage the right conditions for business by outcome of this Migration Summit, since only a global removing barriers to trade. solution will really address the problem of migration. But trade is not the only way to increase prosperity We are certain that the Commonwealth still has within the Commonwealth. The needs of some of significant value to offer, but we also believe that our Commonwealth partners are great. One third it needs a major revamp to make it relevant and of the Commonwealth’s two billion people still live meaningful. It needs a sense of strong ownership and on a meagre income. It is astounding that millions leadership to give it a much needed thrust into the of Commonwealth children have never seen the realities of the twenty-first century. inside of a classroom. For many member countries, We trust that this Conference will be successful in Commonwealth Development support is vital. that respect and will provide an outcome that reflects It is often the case that the people who benefit these much awaited needs. F 19

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