
We are finally meeting again!


About the Commonwealth Business Forum
The Commonwealth Business Forum 2022 (CBF 2022) will be the first and largest in-person gathering for Governments and Business across the Commonwealth since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The CBF 2022 experience has been designed to provide different ways to create meaningful connections, exchange knowledge, contribute to impactful dialogue and consume information.
Hosted as a partnership between the Government of Rwanda and Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) this year’s forum will address the CHOGM theme ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’, with a focus on “A Global Reset”, dealing with the impact of the pandemic and the Commonwealth’s role in rebuilding and reinvigorating the global economy.




There’s nothing quite like the power of in-person collaboration and engaged discourse. The big ideas that emerge will shape the shared future of the Commonwealth.


Who is attending
- Heads of State and Government
- Ministers and Senior Government Officials
- Eminent leaders of global and regional development institutions
- Captains of Industry and Board level business leaders
- Innovators across all sectors
- Impact investors
- Venture capitalists and angel investors
- Champions of Youth entrepreneurship
- Champions of Gender inclusion and equality
- Representatives of Trade organisations
Keynote Speakers


"Rwanda is pleased to welcome all delegates and participants to Kigali for a safe and productive CHOGM Rwanda 2022. The last two years have made it clear to us that we are more connected than ever before and we must work together to achieve the tangible and sustainable results we want. The long awaited meeting will be an important occasion to come together to address the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and to build on innovative technological and economic opportunities to solve other key problems facing our citizens."
H.E. Paul Kagame
President of the Republic of Rwanda and Incoming Chair
Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC
Commonwealth Secretary-General

Lord Marland
Chairman, Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council

Clare Akamanzi
CEO, Rwanda Development Board


Why you need to be at the Commonwealth Business Forum
- Meet and connect with like-minded experts and practitioners
- Contribute to and shape policy, programme and partnership agendas
- Join new business communities across the commonwealth and thrive
- Discover new markets and opportunities across the Commonwealth
Programme
Curate your #CBF2022 program!
Tuesday
21 June 2022
Wednesday
22 June 2022
Thursday
23 June 2022


8am
Arrivals | Exhibition tours | Meet and Greet hosted by Rwanda Coffee
10am – 11am
Opening Ceremony: Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming
This session will consist of keynote remarks aligned to the overall CHOGM theme from the Heads of Government in attendance, CWEIC and RDB leadership.
The remarks will unpack the theme and set the tone for discussions that will be held during the Forum. Delegates will be challenged to contribute to shaping agendas, share insights, exchange knowledge, connect and collaborate with a view to deliver practical and feasible strategies and frameworks that will accelerate post pandemic growth in the Commonwealth.
Location: Akagera Hall, KCEV
11am - 11.30am
Networking break and Exhibition tours
11.30am – 1pm
Opening Plenary
A Global Reset: Leveraging the Commonwealth for a Global Recovery
The economic shock of Covid-19 has pushed the global economy into a sharp downturn and exposed systemic fragilities. This session will bring policy makers and business leaders to share insights on the following:
• What does inclusive economic recovery look like?
• How do recovery strategies align with the Commonwealth’s shared values i.e. free trade, diversity and multilateralism?
• How do we practically leverage the Commonwealth Advantage and the Commonwealth network?
Action Track: Transforming the Commonwealth
Location: Akagera Hall, KCEV
1pm - 2pm
Networking break and Exhibition tours
2pm – 3.30pm
Commonwealth Trade: Challenging Protectionisms and Reducing the Barriers to Business
As the world recovers, free trade areas and reducing barriers to cross-border trade is more critical than ever – how can the Commonwealth challenge rising protectionism?
Most Commonwealth Countries are members of Free Trade Zones, and 19 are members of the world’s newest AfCFTA. What lessons can be learnt from existing Common markets and how can we apply them to make Commonwealth trade easier?
This session will explore new concepts and frameworks to capitalize on trade agreements, the Commonwealth Advantage and the Commonwealth Network.
Positioning the Commonwealth for the Future of Work
The future of work is being shaped by two powerful forces: The growing adoption of artificial intelligence in the workplace, and the expansion of the workforce to include both on- and off-balance-sheet talent. Changes are taking place in workplace, the workforce, and the nature of work itself? This session will discuss how the Commonwealth can prepare itself for the skills of the future and explore what talent mobility looks like in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Action Track: Transforming the Commonwealth
Location: Kigali Hall, KCEV
Innovation Avenue Mixer: Innovation in the Commonwealth
20 curated investors within the ICT sector will be invited for a curated tour of the exhibition with an emphasis on the innovation zones.
A panel will also take place in the Disrupt Pod where 3 of the financiers will share their views on how they select which start-ups they will invest in.
This will be followed by a 1 hour mixer in Innovation Avenue zone with the financiers and additional start invited -up companies from the Commonwealth.
Track: Innovating for the Commonwealth
Location: Disrupt Hub, Virunga Hall, KCEV
Thought Leadership Think Tank: Innovating for Inclusive and Resilient Food Systems
How can the Commonwealth accelerate action to sustainably ensure safe and nutritious food for all?
The term food security revolves around the terms of access to food, availability of food, and climate-smart farming.
The intersection between innovation and agriculture is more pertinent than ever. Several digital innovations have been implemented in various countries.
This think Tank, consisting of experts in the Food Security and Food Systems ecosystem, will explore a range of issues around policy, digital implementation strategies, successful use cases with a view to propose pathways to research and advocate for digital innovations solution tackle.
The expect outcome is a set of recommendations for further discussion with relevant stakeholders within the Commonwealth and beyond.
Action Track: Transforming the Commonwealth
Location: Urukari Hall, KCEV
3.30pm
Networking break and Exhibition tours
4pm – 5.30pm
The Business of Sustainable Fashion
The fashion industry has been a major contributor to climate change and biodiversity loss. The industry’s sustainability efforts are critical to the planet’s health.
This session will feature a series of Ted-talk style presentations from players in the fashion industry who will share their journey and lessons learnt on their path to contributing to transforming the industry. It will be followed by a 30 mins interactive discussion with the audience.
Track: Transforming the Commonwealth
Location: Akagera Hall, KCEV
4pm – 6pm
Field visit: Innovation Hub
• Tour
• Meet and greet
• Presentation from one hub member
• Networking mixer
Track: Innovating for the Commonwealth
Location: Departure from KCEV
6pm - 8pm
Cocktail reception
8am – 9.30am
Exhibition tours and Sponsored working breakfasts
9.30am – 11am
Ecosystems: Redesigning Global Value Chains in a Post-COVID World
Hybrids between centralization and decentralization of processes can be observed in 4IR environments.
The post covid world and emerging digital technologies are influencing the design of ecosystems in global value chains and thus their policies. The new global landscape is challenging Emerging Markets and Development Economy (EMDE) governments to reassess their national competitive advantages and development strategies.
This session will feature a series of conversations with policy experts and thought leaders who will share insights into how policy-makers can analyze connectedness, capabilities and competitiveness.
Track: Connecting the Commonwealth
Location: Kigali Hall, KCEV
Governance for the Future: Are we prepared?
Too often, governance and regulation struggles to keep up with innovation. New ideas, products, and business models are hampered, while citizens are left with outdated protections.
As the Fourth Industrial Revolution takes hold, how will the Commonwealth gain a competitive advantage in the global economy through a more agile regulatory approach? How can a seamless regulatory landscape tackle barriers to trade and cooperation?
This session will debate on:
• Systematic measures needed to enhance foresight
• “Outcome-focused” regulation
• Creating a space to experiment and scale
• Leveraging data to fuel innovation enabling regulation
• Highlighting the role of the private sector in enabling seamless regulatory transitions and tackling barriers to trade and cooperation.
Track: Transforming the Commonwealth
Location: Akagera Hall, KCEV
Thought Leadership Think Tank: Accelerating the Transition to Sustainable Energy
9.30am – 1pm
Field visit: Agribusiness
• Tour
• Meet and greet
• Presentations
Track: Innovating for the Commonwealth
Location: Departure from KCEV
11am - 11.30am
Networking break and Exhibition tours
11.30am – 1pm
Our Common Health: Delivering Equitable Healthcare
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the health and livelihoods of Commonwealth citizens and world alike. When it comes to a pandemic, we need a global approach towards enhanced cooperation.
As we go through the third year of the pandemic, what lessons have we learnt to re-imagine healthcare across the Commonwealth?
How do we solve the glaring inequities the pandemic brought to the forefront such as access to treatments, live saving equipment and vaccines?
Track: Innovating for the Commonwealth
Akagera Hall, KCEV
Innovative Financing, Supporting Future Growth
How do we finance the next stage of sustainable growth? As the world recovers, do we need to rely on traditional financing methods or can we utilise new technologies and systems? This session will look at the role Government must play to harness innovation and facilitate growth.
What role does FinTech such as Crypto, AI and Blockchain play in growing the economy, and how can governments create the infrastructure to help it thrive. How do cross-party stakeholders work together to support an industry in rapid growth, while protecting consumers and a fair tax take?
Innovation Avenue Mixer: Impact Investments
Today’s philanthropists and impact investors are aligning their capital to the Sustainable Development Goals to weigh their financial return on investments alongside environmental and social returns.
They are making impact investments to unleash the power of capital for good.
These investments are made with the intention to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return.
This curated interactive workshop will answer pertinent questions in the world of impact investments – from what they are, who is funding them, financial performance, market size and opportunities.
Transforming the Commonwealth
Location: Disrupt Hub, Virunga Hall, KCEV
Thought Leadership Think Tank: Reskilling the Commonwealth for the Future
With 2.4 billion citizens spanning 5 continents, the Commonwealth's greatest strength lies in its people, 60% of whom are under the age of 30. What does the future of work hold for the next generations? Are our academic institutions producing young people with the skills and knowledge required for their future? How can business and government collaborate to deliver on the promise of the Commonwealth’s youth?
This closed session will invite policy makers, academics, thought leaders in the fields of education and private sector players to discuss / debate the issue.
The expect outcome is a set of recommendations for further discussion with relevant stakeholders within the Commonwealth and beyond.
Transforming the Commonwealth
Location: Disrupt Hub, Virunga Hall, KCEV
1pm - 2pm
Networking break and Exhibition tours
2pm – 3.30pm
Bridging the Digital Divide
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the transition towards a global digital economy. The world’s increased reliance on technology has laid bare the divide between those who can access the digital ecosystem and and those who cannot.
How can the Commonwealth Advantage promote business investment opportunities in digital solutions, services and infrastructure? How can the private sector across the Commonwealth gain from these opportunities?
Track: Connecting the Commonwealth
Location: Akagera Hall, Virunga
Innovation Avenue Mixer: Champions for Green
This session will bring together actors within the blue and green economy ecosystem.
The event will consist of a workshop exchanging ideas for core economic policy for growth and how to make that growth greener.
Track: Transforming the Commonwealth
Disrupt Hub, Virunga Hall, KCEV
Thought Leadership Think Tank: Financial and Professional Services
Trade across borders flows more easily with a common set of standards and regulations. How does the Commonwealth ensure that standards encourage trade, give consumers confidence and add value for producers without them serving to protect markets for incumbents?
Focusing on the Commonwealth Standard Network launched at CHOGM 2018 in London, this session will be developed in partnership with the UK’s British Standards Institution (BSI), with the support of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and will look at the next two stages of the programme.
Track: Transforming the Commonwealth
Location: Urukari, KCEV
Field visit: The Business of Healthcare
• Tour
• Meet and greet
• Presentations
Transforming the Commonwealth
Location: Departure from KCEV
3.30pm - 4pm
Networking break and Exhibition tours
4pm - 5.30pm
Financing Blue-Green Growth for Sustainable Islands
The unique characteristics of small islands present both benefits and vulnerabilities. How can green financing solutions such as ‘The Commonwealth Green Finance Facility’ help islands use their size and agility to accelerate their uptake of Nature Based Solutions and transform their reliance on tourism and shipping into blue-green growth?
What are the other opportunities available for clean growth that drive economic development and ecological resilience on land and sea?
Track: Transforming the Commonwealth
Akagera Hall, Virunga
Sustainable Tourism
Tourism is a ‘supergrowth industry’ and a vital pillar of many Commonwealth countries.
In this session, Commonwealth industry leaders will share their future strategies to revitalise tourism and revive ancillary sectors, including transport and hospitality.
Now that health protocols can ensure a degree of physical safety, how can the industry overcome concerns and instil confidence in renewed international travel?
The session will also unpack how Commonwealth countries will ensure that the efforts towards tourism recovery and growth prioritise sustainable tourism and conversation.
Track: Innovating for the Commonwealth
Location: Kigali Hall, Virunga
6.30pm – 9.30pm
Gala Dinner
8am – 9am
Sponsored working breakfasts and Exhibition tours
9am – 9.45am
Investing in Rwanda
What makes Rwanda an attractive place to trade and invest? What are the opportunities?
9.45am – 11am
Future Cities: Sustainable Urbanisation
Urbanisation is one of the great challenges and opportunities of our time. How do we ensure our rapidly expanding cities give decent places to live, move populations safely, provide jobs and foster innovation? How do the new cities we need protect and improve the environment for future generations?
Track: Transforming the Commonwealth
Location: Akagera Hall, KCEV
11am - 11.15am
Health Break
11.15am – 12.30pm
A Challenge to the Commonwealth: Towards a Sustainable World
HRH The Prince of Wales launched The Great Reset in 2020 and Terra Carta in January 2021 as an appeal to bring prosperity in harmony with nature. Rwanda, in its role as Chair-in-Office will be setting the Commonwealth’s biennial agenda during this historic juncture. How does the family of 54 Commonwealth nations, under Rwanda’s leadership, achieve a step-change in the renewal of the Commonwealth, towards collective prosperity, economic sustainability and societal resilience?
Track: Transforming the Commonwealth
Location: Akagera Hall, KCEV
12.30pm – 1.30pm
Networking lunch and Entertainment
Location: Virunga Hall, KCEV
1.30pm – 2pm
Closing Ceremony
2.15pm – 3.30pm
Heads of Government and CEOs Roundtable
By invitation only
Attending the forum
Rwandan and EAC residents
$250 per delegate
Non-Rwanda and Non-EAC residents
$450 per delegate
Non-Rwandan or Non-EAC residents group discounts (5 or more)
$350 per delegate