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Kenya says preparations complete to host UNCTAD conference

Xinhua, June 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

Kenya has completed all the required preparations for hosting the 14th UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) conference, which is slated to take place from July 17 to 22, a government official said on Wednesday.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Monica Juma told a media briefing in Nairobi that government commenced the preparation for the event in December 2015 by appointing a multi-stakeholder National Preparatory Committee comprising public and private sector officials.

"The conference will reinforce Kenya's high profile status and help to cement the country's position as a global economic and trade player," Juma said.

UNCTAD, which was established in 1964, has 194 member states. The six-day event will be attended by over 7,000 delegates, including government officials, 2,000 business and civil society representatives from around the globe.

The hosting of the conference follows the decision of the UNCTAD Trade and Development Board in November last year to accept Kenya's offer to host the conference.

This is the second time Kenya is hosting the global meeting as the East African hosted the fourth UNCTAD in 1976.

"As the global community returns four decades later, Nairobi continues to shine as a beacon for UNCTAD's crucial role in promoting fairness and justice in the global economic system," Juma said.

She said that negotiations are currently ongoing between UNCTAD member states on the outcome document of the conference, which will provide the mandate and program of work for UNCTAD for the next four years.

The theme for the conference is "from decision to actions: Moving towards an inclusive and equitable global economic environment for trade and development."

This theme is founded on key global outcomes arrived at in 2015 including the 2030 on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), where action is needed as part of implementation.

Juma said that the UNCTAD meeting will focus on kick starting actions to implement the SDGs as well as shaping the world in a spirit of strengthened global solidarity and for the full benefit of the global community. Endit