President Ruto flies to Burundi for COMESA summit

Ruto is expected to take part in high-level deliberations in efforts to strengthen Kenya’s relations with partner states.

by BRIAN ORUTA

Realtime31 October 2024 - 09:30

In Summary

Ruto will also use the opportunity to seek support for Kenya’s bid to host the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) Secretariat, which unites the COMESA, the East African Community, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
He is also expected to hold bilateral engagements with the Presidents of Egypt and Zambia, as well as the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, among other leaders.

*President William Ruto leaves for Bujumbura, in Burundi to attend the 23rd Summit of COMESA Heads of State and Government on October 31, 2024. [PCS]*

President William Ruto left the country for Bujumbura on Thursday morning to attend the 23rd Summit of COMESA Heads of State and Government in Burundi.

Ruto is expected to take part in high-level deliberations in efforts to strengthen Kenya’s relations with partner states.

“The President will engage in high-level discussions aimed at bolstering Kenya’s relationships with key strategic partners, with a particular focus on strengthening regional value chains to deepen COMESA integration,” a statement by State House Spokesperson reads in part.

Some of the issues set for deliberations with COMESA leaders include mobilising support for Kenya’s candidacy for the African Union Commission chairperson position and a final extension of sugar safeguard measures to revitalise the sugar sector.

Ruto will also use the opportunity to seek support for Kenya’s bid to host the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) Secretariat, which unites the COMESA, the East African Community, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

He is also expected to hold bilateral engagements with the Presidents of Egypt and Zambia, as well as the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, among other leaders.

“The discussions with Egypt will focus on enhancing the Kenya-Egypt partnership, with a joint commitment to increase trade between the two nations. His bilateral meeting with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema will explore avenues to facilitate trade, including the formation of a Joint Trade Committee to address and resolve non-tariff barriers,” Hussein said.

This year’s summit celebrates the 30th anniversary of COMESA.

The Summit is themed, “Accelerating Regional Integration through the Development of Regional Value Chains in Climate Resilient Agriculture, Mining, and Tourism.“

President Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi is also expected to take over the chairmanship of COMESA from President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia.

After this, Burundi will be chairing COMESA technical and policy meetings.

The last Summit was hosted by Zambia in June 2023.

COMESA has a combined market of 640 million people and a GDP of $1 trillion.