In Summary
- President Kenyatta called for strengthening of Unctad so that it plays a bigger role in bringing global prosperity.
- Mr Ban Ki-Moon urged the participants to come up with agreements that will restore trust in the global economy and contribute to prosperity for all.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for strengthened global partnership to achieve the socioeconomic goals set for the world, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Speaking during the official opening of the 14th Session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad I4) in Nairobi on Sunday, he asked for bolstering of Unctad so that it plays a bigger role in bringing global success.
“Unctad 14 is a wonderful opportunity to exchange views on how these milestone decisions can be translated into action.” The event will continue for the next five days.
The conference that has attracted more than 10,000 delegates from the world over is aimed at shaping debates to ensure that domestic policies and international actions in trade contribute to sustainable development.
“The huge responsibilities with which we members entrusted Unctad in 1964 are more relevant today than before. Let our commitment to this organisation grow rather than diminish,” he added.
The President was joined by the Vice President of Uganda Edward Kiwanuka, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and the Unctad Secretary-General of Unctad Mukhisa Kituyi.
Mr Ban Ki-Moon urged the participants to come up with agreements that will restore trust in the global economy and contribute to better welfare for all.
He said the summit has a vital role to play in implementing the interdependent and holistic agenda to facilitate flourishing of the economy.
Dr Kituyi said the hosting of the conference in Kenya was a statement of endorsement of the country’s achievement on how to optimise economic opportunities.
He added that the meeting comes at an opportune time following the adoption of the SDGs at the 2015 UN General Assembly.
This is the second time the Unctad conference is being held in Nairobi. The first one was in 1976. These are the only two times the Unctad summit has been held in Africa.
It is one of the major conferences recently hosted in Nairobi after the 10th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference last year.
Kenya also hosted the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in 2015 which was attended by President Barack Obama.
The country recently hosted the Giants Club Summit, an elephant conservation meeting, that was attended by several Heads of State.
Nairobi will next month host the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (Ticad), the first time it is being held outside Japan. It will begin on 27-28 August.
Earlier in the day the President attended the 27th African Union Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, where he called for more intra-Africa trade.
Editing by Philip Momanyi
