King Charles Joins Commonwealth Leaders and Global CEOs for Investment Summit in Antigua

King Charles III joined more than 50 Commonwealth leaders and senior business executives in Antigua and Barbuda for a high-level investment summit examining how billions of dollars in private-sector capital can be directed towards sustainable development across the 56-member organisation.

The Commonwealth Leaders and CEO Investment Summit was held during the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2026) in St. John's, bringing together heads of government, chief executives and business leaders for discussions on trade, investment, innovation and the transition to more sustainable economies.

The summit was hosted by the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI), the exclusive Sustainability Partner of the CHOGM 2026 Business Forum, in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC).

A central issue during the discussions was the gap between the substantial amount of capital being committed to sustainable transition projects and the relatively small proportion reaching Commonwealth countries.

According to the summit organisers, SMI members alone have committed US$5.14 trillion towards transition investment by 2030, but only three per cent of that capital currently flows into the Commonwealth.

Participants examined what governments and businesses could do to increase those financial flows, establish new industry partnerships and accelerate investment in climate resilience and sustainable economic development.

King Charles joined the gathering to hear feedback from the discussions, with particular attention to practical progress and opportunities to advance the transition agenda before 2030.

Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, President and Global Envoy of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, said the summit provided an important platform for connecting government leaders with private-sector businesses.

She said the discussions were intended to accelerate investment, strengthen climate resilience and identify opportunities for trade, innovation and sustainable economic growth.

The event also featured a presentation to the King of a specially branded Formula E racing helmet bearing the Sustainable Markets Initiative logo. The gift was presented by Jeff Dodds, Chief Executive Officer of Formula E, the world's first all-electric racing championship.

The presentation took place alongside a commemorative Formula E race car decorated with the flags of all 56 Commonwealth nations, which was displayed during CHOGM.

Dodds said the championship aimed to demonstrate that technological performance and environmental responsibility could advance together.

He highlighted the vehicle's sustainability features, describing it as Formula E's most sustainable racing car to date, designed to be fully reusable or recyclable at the end of its life.

The car also delivers 70 per cent more power than its predecessor and can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in 1.8 seconds, according to Dodds.

He said bringing the vehicle to Antigua and Barbuda provided an opportunity to showcase the role of electric technology and sustainable sporting events before influential global leaders.

The Antigua summit continues a series of engagements linking Commonwealth political leaders with business executives. King Charles previously convened the Commonwealth Leaders and CEOs Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2022, when he was Prince of Wales, and hosted a Leaders and CEOs Reception during CHOGM in Samoa in 2024.

The gatherings have focused on strengthening public-private partnerships in support of international commitments, including the Paris Climate Agreement, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which includes the 30-by-30 target for protecting biodiversity.

Among the government leaders and senior representatives attending the Antigua summit were Prime Minister Gaston Browne, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Dlamini.

Also in attendance were Maldives Vice-President Hussain Mohamed Latheef, Saint Lucia Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Godwin Friday, Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio, Uganda Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.

Other representatives included Malta Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg, Lesotho Prime Minister Samuel Matekane, Samoa Deputy Prime Minister Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molioo, India's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Kumaran Periasamy and South Africa's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Jeremiah Nyamane Mamabolo.