PS: Envoys to boost economic diplomacy

The government is set to post an ambassador to Muscat, Oman next week as it seeks to strengthen economic ties worldwide.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also confident economic diplomacy was paying dividends with exports to Dubai increasing from Sh3 billion in 2009 to Sh8 billion last year.

"We are using the missions as a vehicle to secure economic advantages. Sixty percent of our diplomats are clearly briefed how to carry out one message on promotion of foreign trade, local investments and tourism," Foreign Affairs permanent secretary Thuita Mwangi told a breakfast meeting at Serena Hotel in Nairobi, Tuesday.

Mr Mwangi said Kenyan envoys had signed performance contracts on how they could help the country realise economic growth.

"In the next two weeks we are going to deploy an ambassador to Muscat. We want as a country to be highly competitive. We are currently facing competition from Ethiopia, Tanzania and Rwanda but we have to take advantage of our geopolitical location," Mr Mwangi said.

"People have knocked on our door but we don’t open. We have just become a reluctant superpower in this region."

Mr Mwangi, who was accompanied by director of economic and external trade division in Ministry of Foreign Affairs Johnson Weru and Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Laban Onditi, said "as we review our foreign policy, our focus to the world will be in terms of economic interests".

It is due to emphasis on economic diplomacy that Kenya opened a number of embassies in Asia and Middle East in last four years.

The PS spoke during a forum for sharing experiences between business executives and senior government officials who participated in the Gulf food exhibition in Dubai in February.

Mr Mwangi rooted for the increase of money allocated to various ministries to promote Kenya’s trade, investments and tourism abroad by the Treasury and consolidation of the efforts.

"Our most important objective is to seek and secure economic advantages for this country," the PS said, adding that Kenyan diplomats should be multi-skilled to juggle multiple demands.

"Even the UK High Commission to Kenya second top official formerly worked with Unilever. We should create embassies not for political advantage but for economic. We need to bring private sector skills to Foreign Affairs. Wes should source skills from wherever they are," Mr Mwangi said.

Brand Kenya chief executive Mary Kimonye called for coordinated message among players to boost trade, investments and tourism.

"We need to move as one country, portray one image, one country look and one country approach," Ms Kimonye said.

Mr Weru said after the Gulf Food exhibition which attracted participants from 81 countries, Kenya now plans to showcase its products and potential in Saudi Arabia and Jordan in the next four weeks.

He said companies that participated in the Gulf event including from dairy, meat, coffee and tea sectors received huge orders.

"Only those from the milk sector are unable to service the orders due to drought," Mr Weru said.

He said Kenya’s exports to Dubai increased from Sh3 billion in 2009 to Sh8 billion last year due to intensive marketing as a result of shift to economic diplomacy.

"Gulf has huge potential due to high number of expatriate workers from Kenya," Mr Weru said.

He urged Kenyans to buy locally produced goods for creation of jobs and economic growth.

"It is quite a shame for instance to go for butter from outside while we have our own," Mr Weru said.

Kenya Dairy Board managing director Michira Gichohi said Kenya should concentrate its marketing in areas with little conditions "where we can deliver our products".

Mr Gichohi announced that 48 countries have confirmed participation at a major exhibition for dairy processors set for Nairobi next month. Four hundred foreign delegates including senior officials are scheduled to participate with Mr Gichohi saying it is "because they have an interest in Kenya".