Exploit goodwill Kenya gets as host of summits

NAIROBI: Kenya has literally been at the centre of the world in the last two years. We have been fortunate to host important international conferences and played host to presidents and top leaders of various countries.
Many countries certainly envy our current position and it is easy to see why; basking in the limelight in the sustained manner we have done should trigger increased investments. Thanks to advances in technology, the world is now a global village with trade barriers across nations largely shattered.

Nations that aggressively cash in on their unique attributes in the stiffly competitive world will have their fair share of the global economic cake. As a country we are making remarkable progress to be a serious economic player worldwide, a position underpinned by a host of globally acclaimed reports.

In the same breath you can rightly say Nairobi is increasingly becoming the capital of Africa, and an important global economic outpost. The city has hosted Global Entrepreneurship Summit, Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation and the just-concluded United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad). There is also the Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development slated for next month. A lot of fundamental factors are taken into consideration before arriving at the decision on where to hold such premier events. Nairobi has been ticking all key boxes and we should be proud of our city.

If you may remember, Deputy President William Ruto went to the Gambia to vouch for Kenya’s readiness to host the upcoming Tokyo conference. And indeed the country was handed the mantle, a hugely significant move given that this will be the first time ever the forum will be held outside Japan. What an honour!

Such global meetings highlight our strength as a conference destination. That we have facilities and other requisite resources to host meetings of such magnitude is in itself a big plus. It also means our business environment is open, vibrant and progressive, while our politics is forward-looking. The resounding success of these summits is a clear proof that we have what it takes as a country to be the hub of trade, finance and innovation in Africa and globally.

The gains that Kenyans will reap from the visits of foreign presidents and prime ministers are immeasurable. Thanks to relentless efforts by the Jubilee administration, we have bolstered our ties with long-term bilateral partners. We have also expanded our international relations by bringing in new partners. If there is something Jubilee ought to be generously credited for, is aggressive economic diplomacy. The numerous trade deals the government has struck will make vital contribution to the transformative agenda that President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration has set for itself. Bearing in mind how ambitious this goal is, it can only be attained by earnestly reaching out and engaging with the world.

There have been unfounded complaints that the President and his deputy have been globetrotting, spending huge amounts of resources that would have been used for more productive purposes. When you do the math, you realise that the benefits of these trips far outweigh the costs. The trade deals emerging from these trips will immensely benefit generations of Kenyans.

For instance, our strengthening ties with Israel as attested by the recent visit of Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, will be a major boost to agriculture. The bilateral agreements that the government has been entering into are not limited to agriculture, they cut across all sectors of the economy. To maintain our current tempo of communing with the world and continue cultivating mutually-beneficial ties, we have to know that a robust investment climate presupposes stable politics.

Therefore, all political actors must strive to maintain tranquility, especially as the elections approach. Analysts have already warned of a slowdown in capital inflows, thanks to investors’ jitters over the polls. We have to reassure them that all will be well by abstaining from acts that could compromise peace and lend credence to their fears.