Minister for Equality, Employment, Culture and Tourism attended The Commonwealth Trade and Investment Summit (CTIS) in London accompanied by Commonwealth Enterprise & Investment Council (Gibraltar) Country Director, Jared Peralta.

CTIS serves as a high-level platform which brings together over 300 senior ministers and business leaders from across the Commonwealth to promote trade, investment and economic collaboration among 56 countries representing 2.7 billion people.

This year’s theme, “Commonwealth Solutions to Global Challenges”, focused on shared approaches to economic, technological, and social issues.

Participation in the summit included a series of high-level roundtable discussions on tourism, skills, cultural preservation, and sustainable growth. In these sessions, Minister Santos underscored Gibraltar’s commitment to sustainable tourism and responsible visitor management, particularly as the UK–EU Treaty is expected to increase visitor numbers.

Bilateral engagements also formed an important part of the visit, including a meeting with the Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Hon. Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, as well as exchanges with senior government ministers and business leaders on opportunities for collaboration. Some of Gibraltar’s local businesses also contributed to the wider programme.

Minister Santos said: “His Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar remains firmly committed to strengthening its relationship with the Commonwealth of Nations, so I was delighted to participate in CTIS and engage with ministers and industry leaders from across the Commonwealth. I was also pleased to learn that some of the businesses in attendance have recently established a presence in Gibraltar, choosing a secure and stable jurisdiction in light of instability in certain regions, with more businesses currently in the process of setting up.

Gibraltar is entering an important new chapter, and it is essential that we continue to promote our strengths internationally while ensuring that growth is sustainable. The Commonwealth provides a valuable platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing and partnership.”