Digital Technologies, Trade and Development: Prospects for the Commonwealth

Historically, technology has served as a critical driver of globalisation, underpinning the rapid expansion in world trade and driving human progress, raising living standards and welfare, and precipitating transformative improvements in human health, education, and economic and social development. Digital technologies are enabling economy-wide innovation at an unprecedented rate, unleashing new opportunities globally. Members of the Commonwealth are at the forefront of this wave of innovation. Yet the disruption is wide, the implications for sectors are unclear and the threat to comparative advantages is universal. One clear objective is for greater collaboration among members of the Commonwealth to mitigate risks and maximise opportunities to further amplify the ‘Commonwealth advantage’ in trading relationships.