- About 51 foreign ministers from the AU member states are also participating in the high-level meeting.
- They are set to hold their 43rd ordinary session of the executive council from July 14-15 while the heads of state will meet on July 16.
Image: FILE
At least 14 Heads of State are expected to attend the 5th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (MYCM) to be held in Nairobi.
The summit of the African Union, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and Regional Mechanisms (RMs) begin on Thursday.
It is themed 'Acceleration of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Implementation'.
About 51 foreign ministers from the AU member states are also participating in the high-level meeting.
They are set to hold their 43rd ordinary session of the executive council from July 14-15 while the heads of state will meet on July 16.
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua said the meeting seeks to consider and approve the AU financial budget for 2024, assess the implementation of AU decisions, and also adopt new decisions on substantive issues of continental interest.
With the MYCM expected to bring in more than 1500 delegates from across Africa, CS Mutua observes that the conference will be a critical centre for tourism and trade opportunities.
“International conferences are key and strategic drivers of our tourism market especially in the MICE Sector,” he said.
He continued, “Every successful international conference held in Kenya cements our globally known legacy of our country's capability to host global meetings and further give delegates the opportunity to experience magical Kenya beyond the confines of the conference halls."
MYCM was conceptualised in 2017 as the principal forum for the AU and RECs in a bid to align their work and coordinate the implementation of the continental integration agenda.
AU chairperson and the Bureau of the Assembly, AU Champion of the AfCFTA, chairpersons of all RECs, AUC chairperson and chief executives of RECs/RMs, deputy chairperson and commissioners of the AUC and the chief executive officer of AUDA-NEPAD are expected to attend.
The RECs include the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA, Community of Sahel–Saharan States (CEN–SAD)and East African Community (EAC).