Kenya tells developed world to end trade barriers

Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed during a press conference in Nairobi on May 26, 2015. The Cabinet Secretary has cited tariffs and non tariff barriers as key hurdles in growth of exports from developing countries. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• “We hope that the MC 10 will usher in a regime that will be more open towards exports from developing countries,” said Ms Mohamed.

By YVONNE KAWIRA
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The Cabinet Secretary for international trade Amina Mohammed has cited tariffs and non tariff barriers as key hurdles in growth of exports from developing countries.

Speaking at World Trade Organization (WTO) 10th Ministerial Conference Informal Session in Geneva, the cabinet secretary cited various impediments to trade including tariff and non-tariff barriers, sanitary and phyto-sanitary standard requirements as some of the key obstacles to Africa’s trade in the global arena.

The CS called for the elimination of trade impediments and expressed hope that the forthcoming WTO Conference in Nairobi will open a new chapter in this regard.

“We hope that the MC 10 will usher in a regime that will be more open towards exports from developing countries,” said Ms Mohamed.

EXHIBITION

Kenya has however spurred a lot of interest from the mini exhibition held in Geneva alongside the informal ministerial meeting.

The exhibition, which was launched in Switzerland, by Cabinet Secretary Amb Amina Mohammed, was targeting investors and officials of multilateral institutions attending the World Trade Organization (WTO) 10th Ministerial Conference Informal Session.

“Trade is an important aspect in our national development. Through this mini-exhibition, a wide array of Kenyan goods and services were displayed,” said Ms Mohamed.

The Cabinet Secretary further announced the ministry’s plans to stage a major exhibition during the MC10 in Nairobi this December.