President Uhuru Kenyatta visits EU and Belgium 29/07/2016

President Kenyatta gives speech at EDD H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta, CGH, visited the Kingdom of Belgium on 15-17 June 2016 on the occasion of the 10^th Edition of the European Development Days (EDD 2016). H.E. the President was invited by the European Union (EU) to address the EDD opening ceremony. (Photo: © EU)

H.E. the President was accompanied by the following: Amb. (Dr.) Amina Mohammed, EGH, CBS, CAV, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Foreign affairs; Mr. Aden Mohammed, EGH, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Industry, Trade & Cooperatives; Hon. Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Joseph K. Nkaisserry , EGH, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Interior & Coordination of National Government; Mr. Henry K. Rotich, EGH, Cabinet Secretary National Treasury; Mr. James Wainaina Macharia, EGH, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing & Urban Development; and Mr. Njee Muturi, CBS, Solicitor General, State Law Office & Department of Justice.

During his visit, H.E. the President held bilateral talks with UN Secretary General H.E. Ban Ki Moon, and exchanged views on Kenya’s decision to close the refugee camps in Dadaab and Kakuma; the Secretary General’s commitment on support for Kenya’s United Nations relations; and the UNCTAD 14 conference to be held on 17-22 July 2016 in Nairobi.

H.E. the President also held bilateral talks with the Vice President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Hon. Ambroise FAYOLLE, on development cooperation between Kenya and the EIB.

H.E. the President further held a meeting with His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium, and exchanged views on Kenya-Belgium relations. The discussions also focused on the peace and security situation in Africa, and more specifically on the Eastern Africa Region. H.E. the President extended an invitation to HM the King to visit Kenya.

Similarly, H.E. the President held bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of Belgium, Hon. Mr. Charles Michel. The two leaders exchanged views on development cooperation; support for the private sector; opportunities for cooperation, with special focus on the Port of Mombasa; peace and security issues in the Horn of Africa; the Burundi crisis; the Democratic Republic of Congo crisis; and the Somalia crisis. H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta expressed support for the candidature of the Kingdom of Belgium to the UN Security Council (2019-2020).

President Kenyatta addresses business forum H.E. the President also graced a Business to Business Forum (B2B) and a business dinner organized for the Kenyan and Belgian business communities. The forum was organizedby the Embassy of Kenya in Belgium and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture Belgium-Luxembourg-Africa-Caribbean-Pacific (CBL-ACP), in collaboration with the Department of Economic Affairs & Commercial Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kenya, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

The B2B forum brought together 64 business executives from Kenya and 60 business executives from Belgium. The theme was “Make it Kenya”. The Forum aimed at providing an opportunity for promotion of private sector interests and support for Business Member Organisations (BMOs) on Kenya and Belgium, at serving as a forum for trade and investment,and at matchmaking between business executives.

Kenyans at diaspora meeting On the second day, H.E. the President hosted a Diaspora meeting for Kenyans living in the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and in the neighbouring countries France, United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands. The meeting focused on the political situation in Kenya; engagement of the Diaspora by the Government; Government support for Diaspora initiatives in development, e.g. the medical field; Diaspora footing; and export duties payable on medical equipment donated to Kenya.

President Kenyatta at ACP Secretariat Lastly, as a tradition, H.E. the President addressed the African, Caribbean & Pacific (ACP) Group of States Ambassadors focusing on the need for strengthened cooperation among the ACP family;topical global issues; the need for the EU to increase the provision for development cooperation, especially in the implementation of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs); commitment to achievement of sustainable development goals; the future perspective of the ACP post-2020; the need for value addition to raw materials in ACP member states; and the role of trade in development.