Antigua and Barbuda proudly participated in the Second Commonwealth Senior Trade Officials Meeting (STOM II) and the Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting (CTMM), which took place from June 16th to 20th, 2025, in Windhoek, Namibia.
The delegation was headed by Ms. Chantal Phillip, Minister Counsellor at the High Commission for Antigua and Barbuda in London, accompanied by Ms. Jomica Carbon, Senior Trade Policy Analyst within the Ministry of Trade.
The meetings brought together senior trade officials, business leaders, and policy stakeholders from across the Commonwealth to advance strategic discussions on digital trade and AI-driven trade facilitation, green trade and circular economies and critical minerals and the sustainable energy transition.
The inaugural Commonwealth Business Summit (CBS) was also held concurrently on the sidelines of the CTMM, where market executives, strategists and trade experts from across the Commonwealth convened to explore investment during the landmark event.
During the Trade Ministers Meeting, Antigua and Barbuda was invited to provide an update on national preparations for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which the country will host in 2026.
Minister Counsellor Phillip reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to delivering a successful and inclusive CHOGM and highlighted progress in infrastructure, security, logistics, and the thematic focus areas of the 2026 agenda.
She also underscored Antigua and Barbuda’s ambition to ensure that CHOGM 2026 becomes a platform for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to shape the policy priorities of Member States.
Ms. Carbon contributed to policy dialogues on trade facilitation, digital trade, and resilience building for small and vulnerable economies. The delegation engaged with counterparts on strategies to strengthen Commonwealth cooperation in light of global economic challenges and to foster sustainable economic growth for all member states.
Antigua and Barbuda expresses its appreciation to the Government of Namibia for hosting the event and to the Commonwealth Secretariat for convening such timely and impactful discussions.
The meetings in Windhoek mark a critical step forward in advancing shared prosperity across the Commonwealth and in preparing for CHOGM 2026 in St. John’s.