President Ruto flies to Burundi for COMESA Summit
By Maureen Kinyanjui |
This summit marks the 30th anniversary of COMESA, a vital trading bloc that encompasses a market of 640 million people and boasts a combined GDP of $1 trillion.
President William Ruto departed for Burundi early Thursday to attend the 23rd Summit of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Heads of State and Government in Bujumbura.
This summit marks the 30th anniversary of COMESA, a vital trading bloc that encompasses a market of 640 million people and boasts a combined GDP of $1 trillion.
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Kenya holds a significant position within this bloc, currently commanding a 12.4 per cent share of the regional market, second only to Egypt.
Between 2019 and 2023, Kenya's exports to COMESA grew by 8.9 percent.
During his visit, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed says President Ruto will engage in high-level discussions aimed at enhancing Kenya's relationships with strategic partners, focusing particularly on strengthening regional value chains to deepen integration within COMESA.
"'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," reads the statement in part.
Burundi Minister of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation Hon. Albert Shingiro receives President William Ruto on Thursday, October 31, 2024. (Photo: Burundi Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
His schedule includes meetings with several African leaders on the sidelines of the summit, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.
The meeting with President Hichilema will explore pathways to facilitate trade, including the potential formation of a Joint Trade Committee designed to address and resolve non-tariff barriers affecting trade between Kenya and Zambia.
The discussions with President El-Sisi will centre around enhancing the Kenya-Egypt partnership, with both leaders expressing a commitment to increasing trade between their nations.
State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed further pointed out that Ruto's agenda on the trip also includes addressing key issues with COMESA leaders and the COMESA secretariat.
Topics for discussion will involve a final extension of sugar safeguard measures to revitalise the sugar sector, garnering support for Kenya's bid to host the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) Secretariat, and mobilising backing for Kenya's candidacy for the African Union Commission chairperson position.
Kenya fronted former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as its AUC candidate.
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