Hon. Alan Ganoo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, is currently in Kigali to participate in the ministerial sessions in the lead up to the 26th CHOGM to be held on 24-25 June 2022.
The theme of 26th CHOGM Summit is: “Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming”. It will deliberate on global challenges including shared climate ambitions, financing climate and ocean action, rebuilding sustainable green and blue economies in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic change, food security, and health issues.
Today, Minister Ganoo is currently participating in the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small States. (CMMSS). In addition to emerging priorities in the light of conflict situations, discussions will focus on challenges which small states face in building resilience and concrete action for support. Ministers will seek to mobilise global action to address the vulnerabilities of small states as well as to coalesce around targeted solutions.
On 23 June, the Minister will attend the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM). The thematic clusters of the CFAMM’s discussions include Democracy Peace and Governance; Sustainable and Inclusive Development, Post COVID-19 Recover. The CFAMM will also review the CHOGM Communiqué, for adoption by CHOGM, and series of outcome documents, including those of the CMMSS.
During the visit in Kigali, Minister Ganoo is expected to hold several bilateral meetings with his counterparts and other visiting dignitaries as well as participate in numerous side events which supplement and bolster the CHOGM programme.
Hon Ganoo had a meeting on 21 June 2022 with Dr. Vincent Biruta, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Rwanda. They exchanged views on advancing bilateral relations and the high potential of cooperation opportunities in various sectors. Discussions also focused on issues related to the implementation of SDGs and the Africa Agenda 2063.
Minister Ganoo also had an encounter with his Jamaican counterpart, Senator the Hon Kamina Johnson-Smith during which they explored, bilaterally, avenues for elevating the Mauritius-Jamaica connections and, multilaterally, on joint advocacy for the cause of Small Islands Developing States. The two Ministers also discussed the issue of the selection, by the CHOGM Summit, for the post of Secretary General of the Commonwealth, for which Senator the Hon Kamina Johnson-Smith is a candidate.
Hon Alan Ganoo had also a meeting with his Seychelles’ counterpart, Hon Sylvestre Radegone. Their engagements articulated around, bilaterally, strengthening and widening the scope bilateral partnerships and, regionally, Indian Ocean-related issues with a focus on regional integration and maritime security.
