Ruto appoints five cabinet secretaries to lead EU-Kenya economic council
By Lucy Mumbi |
The council, co-chaired by Trade CS Salim Mvurya and a European Commission representative, will oversee the implementation of the agreement, focusing on trade facilitation, dispute resolution, and sustainable development.
President William Ruto has appointed five Cabinet Secretaries to serve as members of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Council between Kenya and the European Union.
The council, co-chaired by Trade CS Salim Mvurya and a European Commission representative, will oversee the implementation of the agreement, focusing on trade facilitation, dispute resolution, and sustainable development.
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Other members include Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi, Treasury CS John Mbadi, Agriculture CS Andrew Karanja and Environment CS Aden Duale.
The EPA Council is the highest decision-making body for the agreement and is responsible for overseeing its implementation. This includes the establishment of various organs to facilitate trade, resolve disputes, and ensure sustainable development.
The council will also be tasked with advancing bilateral trade and investment, with a focus on areas such as trade in goods, strengthening supply chains, promoting innovations in trade finance, and increasing trade in green goods and services.
The European Commission in Brussels is expected to appoint its own co-chair and members to the council.
Tariff-free access to European markets
The EPA, signed in December 2023 during a ceremony in Nairobi attended by President Ruto and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, provides Kenyan exporters with tariff-free access to the European Union’s €13 trillion market of 27 countries.
The agreement has already been ratified by both Kenya’s National Assembly and the European Parliament.
In a joint statement issued on June 13, the two parties announced that the EU-Kenya Agreement represents a significant advancement in trade and investment relations between the EU and Kenya.
The then Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria and European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis explained that the agreement aims to implement the provisions of the EPA between the EU and the East African Community (EAC) Partner States, which was finalised in 2014.
This follows a decision by the EAC Heads of State Summit on February 27, 2021. The agreement will also remain open to other EAC Partner States.
The leaders emphasised that the agreement is a key outcome of the EU-Kenya Strategic Dialogue and will be supported by the Global Gateway Africa-Europe Investment Package.
They highlighted its potential to boost trade, investment, and trade-related development cooperation, to deepen economic ties, foster sustainable growth, and create jobs.
Additionally, the agreement is expected to open new opportunities for Kenyan and European businesses, particularly for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to shared values, including advancing sustainability in line with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
The agreement is set to facilitate green and digital transitions while ensuring sustainable growth, environmental conservation, and climate resilience.
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