Ruto takes Raila’s AUC campaign to Comesa Summit
President William Ruto shakes hand with Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli before flew out to Bujumbura, Burundi, to attend the 23rd Comesa Summit.
What you need to know:
- Comesa represents a substantial market for Kenya, which currently holds a 12.4 per cent share of the regional market.
- President Ruto is scheduled to meet with the presidents of Egypt and Zambia, as well as the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.
President William Ruto has travelled to Bujumbura, Burundi, to attend the 23rd summit of Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Heads of State and Government.
State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said the Head of State departed early Thursday for the summit, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of Comesa.
With a combined market of 640 million people and a Gross Domestic Product of $1 trillion, Comesa represents a substantial market for Kenya, which currently holds a 12.4 per cent share of the regional market, only second to Egypt.
State House said that between 2019 and 2023, Kenya's exports to Comesa grew by 8.9 percent, highlighting the strong potential for regional trade and integration.
"During his visit, the president will engage in high-level discussions aimed at bolstering Kenya's relationships with key strategic partners, with a particular focus on strengthening regional value chains to deepen Comesa integration," Mr Mohamed said in a statement.
The president is also scheduled to meet with the presidents of Egypt and Zambia, as well as the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, among others.
The discussions with Egypt will focus on enhancing the Kenya-Egypt partnership, with a joint commitment to increase trade between the two nations while his bilateral meeting with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema will explore avenues to facilitate trade, including the formation of a Joint Trade Committee to address and resolve non-tariff barriers.
President Ruto and his colleagues will also discuss the final extension of sugar safeguard measures to revitalise the sugar sector.
He will also seek to "garner support for Kenya's bid to host the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) secretariat, which unites three regional economic communities: Comesa, the East African Community, and the Southern African Development Community."
President Ruto will also seize the opportunity to mobilise support for Kenya's candidacy for the African Union Commission chairperson position Raila Odinga.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei said Mr Odinga who had been scheduled to attend the summit will however not be present.
"He’s not due to prior commitments," Dr Sing’oei told Nation on Thursday.
