UNCTAD chief says Kenya will gain from hosting global conference

The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretary General, Mukhisa Kituyi, says Kenya is set to gain much from hosting a UNCTAD conference due in July.

Kituyi, a former Kenyan trade minister, made the remarks after talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Tuesday.

He said more than 7,000 delegates would come to Nairobi to attend the 14th session of the UNCTAD, scheduled for July 17 to 22.

"The conference will be attended by many heads of states and will consist of a ministerial conference, a youth forum and the 4th World Investment Forum," he said in a statement issued after the meeting with Kenyatta.

Kituyi said Kenya would gain from the conference, which will be attended by big investors and mayors of major cities from around the world.

The UNCTAD conference, which takes place every four years, is expected to provide an opportunity to discuss the challenges of moving from decisions to actions on the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

President Kenyatta said the government will ensure the visitors have a smooth stay in Nairobi and called for more meetings between the government and UNCTAD as the conference day nears.

"The success of the conference is important for our country and Africa as a whole. It will have a lasting impact on the future of the economy," said the president.

Kituyi thanked the Kenyan government for hosting the conference, adding that the UN was pleased with the preparations for the conference.

Kituyi also announced that the UNCTAD will support the government capacity building for women entrepreneurs.

He said the organization will put up a center where women entrepreneurs can be given a training of trainers course to guide others in business.

Kenya previously hosted UNCTAD session in 1976. The last two UNCTAD conferences were held in Ghana in 2008 and in Qatar in 2012.

(APD)