Commonwealth local authorities have pledged to develop partnerships with business, the private sector and development agencies to help their communities out of the recession. The ‘Cardiff Consensus for Local Economic Development’, agreed this week, also commits local government to become more strategic when developing local infrastructure, tourism and services.

The Consensus was the culmination of a three day conference, organised by the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) in Cardiff City Hall, Wales. Local and central government representatives from 51 countries looked at how partnerships in local economic development can improve efficiency and prosperity.

“The Commonwealth has a vast range of experience in coping with economic change,” said CLGF Chairperson Mayor Zenaida Moya-Flowers. “Canadian authorities have already been through a similar experience in the 1990s, whilst many of our African and Asian members have not felt the recession as badly as other parts of the world and are ahead of many developed countries in their approach to economic development. Everyone has lessons to learn.”

The Consensus will be sent to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) for endorsement, later this year. This agreement will help drive local and national policies and practice on local economic development in Commonwealth countries.

This unique event attracted some 30 ministers and several hundred council leaders from across the world. Among the speakers were the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and the Head of the United Nations Development Programme Helen Clark, together with the Chairman of Microsoft Europe and Vice President of Tata Consulting. Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma also addressed the conference. 

View full text of statement Cardiff Consensus for Local Economic Development