Common wealth Kigali Conference And Exhibition

The Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) has grown into a major international event, drawing together
business and government leaders from all Commonwealth countries for a dialogue on practical ways to
enhance trade and investment. Traditionally, the CBF has been a 70/30 split of attendees from business
and government.
The CBF facilitates direct business linkages and investment promotion activities. The Forum will be run
under strict Covid protocols and structured around plenary sessions and interactive workshops over
three days. It is a platform for B2G and B2B discussion at the very highest levels, addressing key themes
that affect the 54 diverse Commonwealth member nations.
The Forum provides multiple opportunities for one-to-one business meetings as well as networking during
the specially programmed networking breaks, the Forum Reception and Gala Dinner.
CBF 2021 will be held on the three days preceding the Official Opening of the Commonwealth Heads
of Government Meeting (CHOGM), to maximise the participation of visiting Heads of Government and
their delegations. It will be addressed by Heads of Government, senior ministers, captains of industry
and board level business leaders from around the Commonwealth and beyond.
CBF 2021 will be one of the first, major, global in-person events post-Covid and will be an opportunity
for participants to help contribute to a reset of business norms across the Commonwealth.
CBF 2021 is organised as partnership between the Government of Rwanda and the Commonwealth
Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC). We expect between 750 to 1,000 delegates to travel to
Kigali for CBF 2021.

09:30 Opening Ceremony
Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming
10:30 Networking break
11:00 Session 2: Opportunity to 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. The road to an inclusive economic recovery relies on
the endurance of the Commonwealth’s shared values: free and fair trade, diversity and
multilateralism. How do the shared values inform the ‘Commonwealth Advantage’ and
how can the Commonwealth network be leveraged to reshape the international agenda
and create greater prosperity?
12:30 Networking lunch
14:00 Session 3: Global Supply Chains: Making the Commonwealth Advantage Count
The shocks caused by the Covid-19 control measures, from the shutting-down of factories to
restrictions on vital medical supplies and some food shortages, brought the vulnerabilities
of the global supply chain into sharp focus. How can Commonwealth trade links drive
secure, diverse and reputable supply chains; balance onshore and offshore supplies and
foster resilient economies?
Session 4: An Entrepreneurial Commonwealth: Creating Tomorrow’s Innovators
How can Commonwealth countries encourage young people to think of entrepreneurship?
What role can education and mentoring play in skilling and encouraging? Are fiscal
incentives and innovation hubs enough to create ecosystems? How does the Commonwealth
retain its brightest and can hubs such as the Kigali Innovation City incubate the next global
success story?
Session 5: Women Leading the World, Leading the Commonwealth
The women leading Commonwealth corporations are evidence that diversity works for
business. This session celebrates the excellence of female leadership whilst advocating for
deeper change and greater innovation. How can programmes like SheTrades help aspiring
female leaders to match opportunities with their ambition?

Session 6: Tech for Development: Futureproofing Digital Infrastructure
In 2020, broadband stood out as a critical utility and an essential component of the digital
transformation accelerated by the pandemic. The world’s increased reliance on technology
has laid bare the divide between the households who can access the digital economy and
those who cannot. What are the investment opportunities in the rollout of broadband in
emerging markets and how are initiatives such as the Kigali Centre for the Fourth Industrial
Revolution bridging the gap to ensure that no one is left behind?
Session 7: Investing for Social impact: Aligning Social and Financial Returns
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. What steps can the international investor community take to mainstream
Environmental, Social and Governance standards? How can we standardise ESG metrics
to keep track of investment performance and accountability?
Session 8: Fashioning the Commonwealth’s Textile Industry
Many Commonwealth economies such as India, Bangladesh and Ghana were seriously
impacted by the pandemic halting production and exports. Millions of workers were left
unemployed as retailers in developed markets had to manage lockdowns and dampened
consumer demand. Against these global headwinds, could a new era of pan-Commonwealth
cooperation, help spur innovation and increase retained value?
17:30 Special session: The Business of Trust – Special Session on Governance and the Rule
of Law
18:30 Reception hosted by Rwanda