The 10th Ministerial Conference will be the first one held in the continent since the organisation was established in 1995.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 13 – Delegates to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) 10th Ministerial Conference will inject about Sh2.1 billion ($21 million) into the Kenyan economy when they converge in Nairobi from December 15 to 18 this year.
Economics Director at the Trade Directorate in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nelson Ndirangu says the 7,000 delegates are expected to use at least $500 every day until the end of the conference.
“The delegates will be in the country for at least six days spending at least $500, you do the math,” Ndirangu told Capital FM Business.
He says the conference will be a big boost to the Kenyan economy as the country will sell its products, and position itself as the best conference destination in the world.
“We are also seeing this as part of conference tourism and we are popularising this country as the best destination to come,” he said.
He says preparation is already finalised and is expecting the WTO Secretariat in the country next week to do a final run of inspection.
The 10th Ministerial Conference will be the first one held in the continent since the organisation was established in 1995.
“We hope the conference will agree to conclude the Doha Round of trade talks that have stalled over a divide on major issues, such as agriculture, industrial tariffs and non-tariff barriers, services, and trade remedies,” he added.
Kenya won the bid to host the 10th conference scheduled after member countries of the WTO unanimously made the decision following intense lobbying by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade led by Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed.
