Nairobi bets on UN forum to market Kenya as safe investment hub
President Uhuru Kenyatta meets with Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development,UNCTAD, who called on him at State House, Nairobi on May 10, 2016. PHOTO | PSCU
What you need to know:
The meeting themed “Translating Agenda 2030 Decisions into Actions”, will take place from July 17-22 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.
Over 250 heads of delegation, 4,000 government delegates and 2,000 business and civil society representatives are expected to attend the multi-stakeholder conference.
Nairobi believes the conference will reinforce Kenya’s high profile standing within the United Nations as an active member and contributor to the international economic order.
Global trade and investment rules will top the agenda for the upcoming United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) XIV to be held in Nairobi in two months.
The meeting themed “Translating Agenda 2030 Decisions into Actions”, will take place from July 17-22 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.
“This is the first Unctad conference after the adoption of Agenda 2030 and sustainable development goals in September 2015. It will, therefore, seek to operationalise the synergies that exist between various outcomes, including the 10th World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference, COP21 on Climate Change, as well as the International Conference on Financing for Development in Addis Ababa, last year,” says a brief of the agenda for the conference seen by the Nation.
The forum will coincide with a world leaders’ summit, which will see Heads of State and government hold “frank exchange of views with the business leaders on the vision for investment in the context of sustainable development,” according to the note.
Over 250 heads of delegation, 4,000 government delegates and 2,000 business and civil society representatives are expected to attend the multi-stakeholder conference from 194 United Nations member countries.
“It is expected the conference will provide an opportunity to dialogue on the balance between trade-rule making process and investment regulations,” explains the brief.
KENYA'S PROFILE
Besides the trade agenda, Nairobi believes the conference will reinforce Kenya’s high profile standing within the United Nations as an active member and contributor to the international economic order.
“It will cement Kenya’s position as a global economic and trade player. The summit will position Kenya at the helm of economic leadership in Africa and world at large. The honour to host the conference is a resounding endorsement of Kenya by the global community,” says the brief.
Nairobi is also betting on the event to market Kenya as a safe and secure destination for investments and tourism.
“It will boost Kenya as a major global destination for conferences. It will also revitalise Kenya’s tourism and travel sector. It is taking place at a time when our conference diplomacy is receiving a big boost following the successful hosting of the World Trade Organisation (MC10), the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, the visit by President Obama, the visit by the Pope, the hosting of the ACP and ACP-EU Council of Ministers in 2014 among others,” says the brief.
