Kenya Must be Exporting Rather than Importing Food - President Ruto

President William Ruto has said Kenya should be exporting rather than importing food. He said it is time bold, ambitious and progressive policy decisions were pursued to make the country produce more. The President insisted that Kenya has the potential to feed itself and sell the surplus to other countries. “We must turn agriculture into a commercial economic activity,” he said.

President William Ruto

The President explained that the Government was consolidating main trading blocs in Africa “so that we can give value to our farmers”. “We should allow our farmers to earn more from their sweat by exploiting new and lucrative markets for them,” he noted.

He made the remarks recently at State House in Nairobi during a consultative meeting with Governors, Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry and Development Partners. The meeting focused on the promotion of trade, strengthening of market linkages, and the establishment of aggregation centers and industrial parks in counties. “We have agreed to work together to promote investment and trade so as to stimulate our country’s economic growth.”

The President insisted that Kenya’s products are premium and much sought-after in the world. He added that land in regions such as Turkana, Mandera, Wajir, among other arid areas should not be lying idle. “Commercial irrigation will turn these regions into our food baskets. Water harvesting will, therefore, form the main part of our country’s transformation plans.”

Source: APO

U.S.-Africa Business Summit set for July 11-14 2023 in Gaborone, Botswana

During a recent visit to Gaborone, Botswana, Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) President and CEO Florizelle “Florie” Liser was honored to meet with H.E. Mokgweetsi Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana, who reiterated his Government’s commitment to successfully co-hosting the 15th U.S.-Africa Business Summit (USABS) in Botswana later this year.

Ms. Liser made the announcement with Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Hon. Mmusi Kgafela that the Summit will be held July 11-14 2023 in Gaborone.

President Masisi noted that key Cabinet officials who attended the meeting were ready to mobilize their ministries and work collaboratively with CCA and the private sector to organize a highly successful Summit.

Florie Liser with H.E. Mokgweetsi Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana

The U.S.-Africa Business Summit is the Corporate Council on Africa’s premier annual event, bringing together African heads of state, senior U.S. and African government officials, and top CEO’s and senior business executives from the U.S. and Africa spanning major business sectors that are critical to the continent’s development. These include infrastructure, ICT / digital, health, energy, mining, agriculture, consumer goods, finance, tourism and creative industries.

The 15th USABS theme “Enhancing Africa’s Value in Global Value Chains” highlights an issue that was heavily discussed during the U.S. - Africa Business Forum, hosted by President Joseph R. Biden on the second day of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, DC in December 2022. During the Forum, President Biden announced more than $55 billion in new U.S. government programs to support trade, investment and development in Africa along with more than $15 billion in new trade and investment deals made by private sector companies that were in attendance.

 CCA was proud to have co-organized the U.S.-Africa Business Forum which highlighted opportunities for greater collaboration between the U.S. and African private sector. This year’s CCA Summit will build on and advance those discussions, further deepening U.S.-Africa economic engagement and business ties.

 With a desire to keep the positive momentum going from the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit and Business Forum, Ms. Florie Liser stated that " the U.S.-Africa Business Summit is an important platform and opportunity to again bring together U.S. and African government and private sector leaders to grow U.S.-Africa trade, business, and mutually beneficial gains for the people and businesses of both the United States and Africa.”

Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry the Honorable Mmusi Kgafela said, “We look forward to working with our partners at the Corporate Council on Africa to herald a new era of two-way trade and investment between Africa and the United States. We welcome U.S. private sector businesses to drive investment and technology that can enhance Africa’s role in key global value chains, create jobs, and spur economic growth here in Botswana and across the continent.”

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