Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday said the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of nations will strongly defend multilateral trading systems in order to protect themselves from unfair trade practices.
Kenyatta said Kenya, which has taken over the chairmanship of the group of 79 countries, will spearhead reforms and reinvigoration of the ACP for the next three years.
He said that under his stewardship, Kenya will seek to promote and protect the interests of the group at the regional, continental and international levels.
“I will also champion the group’s solidarity and unity; advocate for an enhanced intra-ACP and South-South and Triangular Cooperation; Champion a Reform Agenda for the ACP Group; push for the integration of our States into the global economy, as well as the conclusion and implementation of the New Partnership Agreement,” said the President.
He said he will share his vision with the leadership of the rest of the ACP countries on how they can collectively pursue a common roadmap for the actualisation of the transformed ACP Group.
Kenyatta urged ACP countries to embrace innovation and technology in order to boost their economies.
He spoke during the 9th African Caribbean and Pacific Summit of Heads of State and Government which kicked off in Nairobi.
“We need to accelerate the implementation of structural reforms and policies and infrastructural development, targeted at fostering industrial development and diversification of our economies,” the President said.
Kenyatta called for the ACP to become a vehicle for deeper south-south partnership given that it represents the nations in the southern hemisphere. He said the ACP stands out as the largest transnational organisation in the world and it should therefore play a stronger role in global affairs.
Speaking on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between ACP and the Europeam Union, he noted that Kenya’s wish is for further agreements with the EU that will enhance integration of ACP countries into the global economy.
Other leaders who spoke at the summit included the Prime Minister of Barbados Ms Mia Mottley and the President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo among others.
Presidents Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Hage Geingob (Namibia) and Prime Minister Andrew Holness (Jamaica) also attended the Heads of State summit.
JK/abj/APA