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Membership

Membership of the CBC is open to companies based in, with operations in, or intending to invest in one or more of the 53 Commonwealth member nations. An elected board, drawn from the membership, guides the CBC's work, thus ensuring that the CBC's agenda reflects the priorities of those it was established to serve. Working with the Commonwealth Business Council, members contribute leadership, expertise, and resources to build partnerships at the highest levels and implement programmes with governments and businesses within the Commonwealth and the wider international community.

The CBC organizes and hosts a number of high level conferences, meetings, roundtables and trade missions across The Commonwealth, covering a diverse range of subjects and sectors. Members of the CBC are entitled to one complimentary delegate attendance and a second place at 50%.

“The Commonwealth Business Council plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between the public and private sector, small and large businesses, and developed and developing markets.”

Hon. Gareth Thomas MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State DFID, UK

 
CBC Members gathered for Lunch with Hon Patrick Manning, Prime Minister, Trinidad & Tobago
CBC Members gathered for Lunch with Hon
Patrick Manning, Prime Minister, Trinidad & Tobago


CBC also works very closely with other companies and with governments and public sector bodies, on specific programme or project related activites and in various types of commercial relationships.

One of the CBC's central functions is to represent the interests of the private sector within the Commonwealth through its growing membership base.



“I was a founding co-chair for the CBC when in 1997 Commonwealth leaders decided to put economic development, and a bigger role for business, at the centre of their agenda. The Commonwealth’s strength lies not only in its shared values and principles, but also in its institutions. And ‘the Commonwealth Factor’, the combined effect of the English language, similar institutions, legal systems and business practices – has driven increased economic interaction.”

Cyril Ramaphosa, Executive Chairman, Shanduka Group Ltd, South Africa and Co-Chair CBC, 1997-2003

Dr Mohan Kaul, CEO CBC, Lord Mark Malloch Brown, Minister for Africa, Asia and the United Nations (UN) and Paul Skinner Chairman, CBC and Rio Tinto
Dr Mohan Kaul, CEO CBC, Lord Mark Malloch Brown,
Minister for Africa, Asia and the United Nations (UN)
and Paul Skinner Chairman, CBC and Rio Tinto
The CBC is the official voice of the private sector within the Commonwealth network, playing a unique intermediary role between the private sector and Commonwealth heads of government, ministers of trade and finance, ministers responsible for information and communications technologies as well as other ministers involved in trade and investment issues.

The CBC acts as a facilitator, providing governments with constructive input from the private sector, whilst at the same time providing the private sector with productive access to government.


“The Commonwealth, with its breadth and depth of membership is ideally placed to help guide globalisation towards positive goals and it is the CBC that leads this mission. We are growing steadily as a trading bloc within the global economy bound together by our deep historical roots.”

The Rt Hon The Earl Cairns,
Chairman, Celtel International and CBC Chairman 1997-2003

Benefits of Membership
  • Access decision makers and influential policy shapers, including Heads of Government and Commonwealth Ministers.
  • Develop a clearer understanding of the political, economic and commercial environment in Commonwealth countries.
  • Play a 'thought leadership' role within the international business community.
  • Explore partnerships for specific projects with a sectoral or geographic focus.
  • Contribute to policy inputs through participation in CBC Working Groups.
  • Contribute to programme development for CBC projects, events and other activities.
  • Share your company knowledge/expertise.
  • Access the CBC's extensive information and relationship networks.

“The CBC has helped companies and governments address many key challenges to operating successfully in very competitive global markets. It has focused on improving investment flows and lowering trade barriers. It has also addressed challenges of improving access to the latest information and communications technologies.”

Jacques Lamarre, President and CEO, SNC-Lavalin Group, Canada and Chairman, CBC 2006-2007

Strategic Partner
Hon Patrick Manning, Prime Minister, Trinidad & Tobago, Chris Halliday and Alun Cole of Eversheds LLP
Hon Patrick Manning, Prime Minister, Trinidad & Tobago,
Chris Halliday and Alun Cole of Eversheds LLP
Selected companies are invited to participate through an ongoing, longer-term involvement as Strategic Partners with tailor-made programmes to meet the specific needs and interests of each Strategic Partner.Access decision makers and influential policy shapers, including Heads of Government and Commonwealth Ministers.

Constructing an annual plan with the CBC with a view to furthering top-level strategic company’s objectives through involvement in all the relevant CBC activities. Play a “thought leadership” role within the international business community. The CBC will “reverse engineer” programmes and elements of programmes to perfectly match your strategic interests. The CBC will provide you with opportunities to be co-creators of bespoke projects – i.e. on an exclusive basis and built from scratch to match your strategic interests.

Steve Westwell & HE Dr Carl Roberts High Commissioner for Antigua & Barbuda
Steve Westwell & HE Dr Carl Roberts High
Commissioner for Antigua & Barbuda
Your organisation will benefit from high-profile exposure as a leading corporate supporter of the CBC’s mandate, and you will receive VIP treatment in terms of CBC facilitating meetings with Commonwealth Government officials of interest to your organisation.


"The CBC has had particular success in attracting prospects for investment. Globalisation has been good for Commonwealth diversity and has made it very congenial. You can sense new blood coming into old blood.”

Mr Paul Skinner
Chairman, Rio Tinto plc and CBC Chairman



Hugh Morgan
Hugh Morgan
“The CBC has been working with governments and the private sector to stimulate the investment climate, playing a contributing role in some impressive economic growth achievements.”

Hugh Morgan
CEO, First Charnock Australia, Former CEO Western Mining, and Co-chair, CBC 2003-2005



Working Groups:
The Commonwealth Business Council is undertaking a number of initiatives to facilitate global trade, investment and development through a range of CBC Working Groups. The actions of the CBC facilitates dialogue between private companies and government ministers in areas covering Corporate Governance, Public Private Partnerships in Infrastructure, Intra-Africa Trade, Tourism, Aviation, Banking, Emerging Market Investors, Local Content and Health Issues. Through debate and discussion CBC Working Groups are able to create template agreements, products and outputs that are immediately useful to CBC members, the wider Commonwealth business sector and their governments. This provides the private sector with an insight into government policy and the opportunity to have an input into intergovernmental meetings and possible agreements.

Rahul Bajaj
Rahul Bajaj
“CBC promotes free and fair trade and investment among Commonwealth countries. It also provides a platform for business and governments to engage each other in an era wherein increasingly public-private partnership represents the best way forward. In my view the long term benefits of being a member of the CBC are substantial.”

Rahul Bajaj,
Chairman, Bajaj Auto, and Co-Chair, CBC 2003-2005



 

 Eligibility

Membership of the CBC is open to a limited number of companies based in Commonwealth countries and doing business in other member states.

 Company Representation

Member companies must be represented on the Council at the level of Chairman, Chief Executive or other Board Member.A second representative should be nominated to liaise between the company and the CBC, normally receiving all correspondence sent out by the CBC.

 Annual Subscription Fee

The annual subscription fee for membership is based on your company's latest published turnover figure. 

 VAT

For members who are headquartered in the UK VAT is applicable to the membership fee at 17.5%

 Contacts

For information on CBC Membership, please contact:

Nicole Nwasike - nicole.nwasike@cbcglobal.org
 
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