Editor's Review

Ruto further noted that trade remains key to long-term, sustainable economic growth and development.


President William Ruto on Tuesday met with United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretary General Rebecca Grynspan at Eldoret State Lodge.

During the meeting, Ruto lauded the role played by UNCTAD in helping address structural challenges inherent in developing countries.

"President Ruto argued that the challenges hinder the pursuit for inclusive, resilient, fair, equitable and sustainable development," State House said in a statement.

Ruto further noted that trade remains key to long-term, sustainable economic growth and development.

President William Ruto meets with a delegation from UNCTAD.

“We, therefore, need to unite our efforts to continue to stimulate this for Africa has resources required to grow this continent and therefore prudent use of trade can boost development and create absolute gains,” said President Ruto.

The meeting comes ahead of UNCTAD’s conference to be held Wednesday in Nairobi.

During the meeting, Ruto was flanked by Trade and Investment CS Moses Kuria.

At the same time, Ruto commended the organisation for choosing Kenya as the venue for the launch of the UNCTAD’s flagship report.

The report is titled, Economic Development in Africa with its theme ‘the potential of Africa to capture technology-intensive global supply chains’.

According to Ruto, the launch provides an excellent opportunity for Kenya to amplify its voice on the ongoing efforts around inclusive, fair and sustainable development.

“We strongly believe that UNCTAD is a strategic partner for Kenya not only in providing support under its three pillars of consensus building, research and policy analysis and technical assistance but also in onboarding other development stakeholders so that we achieve as one,” said President Ruto.

Present were Ms Nicole Lewis-Lettington – Project Coordinator of UNCTAD, Mr Paul Akiwumi, Director of the Africa Division at UNCTAD, Mr James Zhan, Director of the Investment Division at UNCTAD and Mr Stephen Jackson – UN Resident Coordinator