US-GOK PROGRESS ON AGOA FORUM PREPARATIONS

UNCLAS NAIROBI 001056 STATE PASS USTR CONNIE HAMILTON, PATRICK DEAN COLEMAN, AND WILLIAM JACKSON STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/E, AND AF/EPS ANN BREITER, GABRIELLE MALLORY, MARY B. JOHNSON, AND TAWANNA DAVIDSON STATE ALSO FOR AF/EX SYLVIE MARTINEZ AND SONJA WRAY-BROWN AF/PD FOR CLAUDIA ANYASO AND TIJEN AYBAR STATE ALSO FOR EEB/TPP/BTA AMY HOLMAN STATE PLEASE PASS USAID/EA AND USAID/AFR/SD BRUNO CORNELIO AND JEFF MALICK TREASURY FOR DAN PETERS AND REBECCA KLEIN COMMERCE FOR KEVIN BOYD, ALICIA ROBINSON, AND BECKY ERKUL AGRICULTURE FOR DON EVANS AND CATHY MCKINNELL LABOR FOR SUDHA HALEY AND MAUREEN PETTIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC AMGT ECON ETRD AGOA PGOV PREL KE SUBJECT: US-GOK PROGRESS ON AGOA FORUM PREPARATIONS REFS: (A) NAIROBI 988 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. This cable is not/not for internet distribution. ¶2. Summary: At the May 21 meeting of the AGOA Main Preparatory Committee, the Government of Kenya (GOK) accepted the changes to the US-Africa Ministerial Program as approved by Bureau of African Affairs Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson, and it has posted the modified program to the AGOA website. The GOK does not support any further changes to the program including those proposed by the African diplomatic corps in Washington. The GOK has allocated rooms at the Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) to all forum events and emphasized that any changes to the program must be coordinated with the Conferencing Sub-Committee. Econoff announced that the US has offered to host lunch for forum participants on August 6. The GOK requested that the US consider hosting lunch on August 5 instead, as the Economic Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) has committed to sponsor lunch on August 6. The GOK has selected the logo for the forum, and the Publicity Sub-Committee will coordinate the joint press conference with the Embassy. End summary. -------------- Programming -------------- ¶3. At the May 21 meeting of the AGOA Main Preparatory Committee, the Government of Kenya (GOK) agreed to the changes to the US-Africa Ministerial Program as approved by Bureau of African Affairs Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson, and it has posted the modified program to the AGOA website. The GOK does not support any further changes to the program including those proposed by the African diplomatic corps in Washington. The Chair emphasized that the program is at a critical point because the Security and Conferencing Sub-Committees have already allocated rooms at the Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) for all three forum events, including social events. He therefore strongly discouraged any further changes to the program. (Note: On May 27, The Chair of the Technical Sub-Committee said that the Commercial Officer at the Kenyan Embassy in Washington will meet with the US interagency team to discuss (and discourage) the changes proposed by the African diplomatic corps. End note). ¶4. The GOK sent official letters to the sponsors of forum social events to confirm commitments. The Chair highlighted the need to include details of social sponsors on the forum program. Econoff announced the US offer to host lunch for forum participants on August 6. The GOK requested that the US consider hosting lunch on August 5 instead, as the Economic Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) has already committed to sponsor lunch on August 6. The Committee requested feedback from the interagency team regarding the possibility of the US hosting lunch on August 5. -------------- Joint Press Conference -------------- ¶5. The GOK selected the logo for the forum, and the Chair of the full committee stressed the need to move forward with the joint press conference. The GOK would like to hold the press conferencing as soon as possible; the Publicity Sub-Committee will coordinate the conference with the Embassy. The Publicity Sub-Committee said that the delay of the joint press conference is hampering the progress of the committee's work. (Note: As soon as we receive a copy of the logo, we will send it to the interagency for review. The GOK would like to tie the unveiling of the logo with the upcoming joint press conference. End note.) -------------- Private Sector/Civil Society Progress -------------- ¶6. The Private Sector Sub-Committee sent confirmation letters to session speakers and continues to mobilize private sector participation through the USAID Regional Trade and Competitiveness Hubs. The trade show event planner reported 128 stands are booked for the exhibit. The Civil Society Sub-Committee reported that it has a draft program and is working, in partnership with the US civil society lead, to source speakers for its sessions. -------------- GOK Progress -------------- ¶7. The GOK has made the following progress on forum preparations: -- The GOK sent invitations to AGOA-eligible countries the week of May 13. -- The Conferencing Sub-Committee is testing the registration system this week to ensure there are no problems with the entire registration and accreditation process. Once the system is online, they will convene a committee to begin vetting registrants in batches as they are received by the system. The Sub-committee requested a written list of fees for events of the forum. -- During the meeting, the Chair confirmed that the EAC Investment Conference will be held either one day earlier or later than the AGOA Forum. Ranneberger