The City of London Corporation is pleased to co‐host the Commonwealth Economic Forum with the Commonwealth Business Council at Mansion House. As a diverse grouping of 54 English language countries there is a strong rationale for the Commonwealth to be reconsidered in terms of its trade and investment potential, particularly given the growing importance of developing economies and the desire of countries such as the United Kingdom to do more business in emerging markets.

As a global centre of finance and investment, the City of London continues to play an important role in underpinning the trade and investment connections between Commonwealth countries. Through initiatives such as the London Principles of Sustainable Finance, the City has also played a leading role in developing socially
responsible investment and ensuring that sustainability is a key consideration of all financial institutions. I also welcome the focus of the Forum on issues such as supporting small and medium sized enterprises and fostering entrepreneurship. There is a great deal that we might learn from the diverse range of experiences of these issues from across the Commonwealth.

I look forward to welcoming you to Mansion House.