In a bid to bolster Kenya’s economic revival, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is urging the newly appointed envoys to prioritize the expansion of the country’s export market. Speaking at the Official Residence in Karen, Nairobi, during a gathering of over 40 new Ambassadors, Consuls Generals, High Commissioners, and Deputy Heads of Mission, Gachagua emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting crop production and implementing reforms in key sectors to stimulate the economy. He implored the envoys to align their efforts with these initiatives, stressing the critical importance of market expansion for Kenyan produce.
“We are ramping up food production. However, without proportional market access, farmers may lose morale. Your task is to assist us in marketing coffee, tea, milk, miraa, and other products,” Gachagua asserted.
The Deputy President urged the envoys to strategize on broadening trade opportunities, attracting more direct investments, and negotiating bilateral labor agreements to create additional employment opportunities for Kenyans abroad. He underscored that their performance would be evaluated based on the economic benefits they bring to the country.
“We expect you to assess the current trade volumes. Over the course of a year, we anticipate a shift towards capturing new markets and retaining existing ones. There must be tangible progress. Your contracts are contingent on delivering measurable results such as increased trade volumes and secured jobs. Without tangible outcomes, your presence at the missions will be rendered redundant,” remarked the Deputy President.
Musalia Mudavadi, the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, emphasized Kenya’s global appeal and encouraged the ambassadors to leverage this for economic gain.
Moreover, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives Simon Chelugui highlighted the anticipation among coffee, tea, and other farmers for improved prices for their products. He urged the envoys to explore lucrative markets abroad to fulfill this need.
Chelugui also pointed out the recent Economic Partnership Agreement inked between the European Union and Kenya, the African Free Trade Area Agreement, and other trade accords as pivotal frameworks for extending Kenya’s presence in the international market.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism Alfred Mutua expressed the need for Kenya to assert its position as the most preferred tourist destination. He pledged to collaborate with the envoys in promoting the country’s offerings to augment tourist numbers.
Mercy Wanjau, the Secretary to the Cabinet, informed the envoys of the obligation to provide progress reports on their efforts to expand bilateral and multilateral opportunities for Kenya.
Korir Sing’oei, the Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, lauded the diversity within the team and emphasized its potential to yield positive outcomes.
In further alignment with the government’s focus on economic diplomacy, Deputy President Gachagua emphasized that the work of trade attachés would complement and reinforce the envoys’ efforts. He underscored the need for unwavering proactivity in advancing commercial diplomacy.
“We must seize every available opportunity to build and fortify commercial diplomacy. Your approach needs to be exceptionally assertive,” he asserted. – DPPS
