KENYA AGOA PREPARATIONS INTENSIFY

UNCLAS NAIROBI 001278 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: KENYA AGOA PREPARATIONS INTENSIFY REFS: (A) NAIROBI 1139 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. This cable is not/not for internet distribution. ¶2. Summary: At the June 18 meeting of the AGOA Main Preparatory Committee, the Government of Kenya (GOK) confirmed there would be no changes to the US-Africa Ministerial Program contrary to the suggested changes of the African diplomatic corps. ECON/C announced the USG interagency had approved the logo. The Private Sector Sub-Committee requested that the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk, along with the Kenyan Minister of Trade Amos Kimunya, open the trade exhibition on August 4 (see action request para 10). RSO stressed the importance of thorough vetting of registrants and insisted on direct meetings with police and intelligence officials to further refine the comprehensive security plan. On June 23, in a joint press conference at the Ministry of Trade, Ambassador Ranneberger and Minister of Trade Kimunya announced the forum, issued the joint press statement, and unveiled the official logo. The badging and registration system went live June 22 and is currently available through the AGOA website, www.agoaforumkenya.go.ke, for participants to register until July ¶17. End summary. -------------- Program -------------- ¶3. At the June 18 meeting of the AGOA Main Preparatory Committee, the Government of Kenya (GOK) confirmed there would be no changes to the US-Africa Ministerial Program despite the suggested changes of the African diplomatic corps. The Chair agreed that Kenyan Trade Minister Amos Kimunya could offer closing remarks and that reports of the forum session could be publicized following forum events. The Private Sector Sub-Committee requested the United Stated Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk, along with the Minister of Trade Kimunya, open the trade exhibition on August 4. The sub-committee also requested to open the trade exhibition to the public on August ¶7. In a separate meeting with the GOK at the KICC June 24, ECON/C stressed the importance of confirming details of the overall forum program, including room allocations, room layouts, equipment requirements, and program flow for plenaries, opening and closing events, as well as social events. ECON/C and the full committee chair agreed to hold weekly core team meetings, in addition to the full committee meetings, between key GOK officials and embassy staff in order to ensure that both programmatic and logistical tasks are successfully completed. The GOK requests that we come to the first meeting on July 1 with all of the US speakers for the various forum events identified (see action request para 10). ECON/C requested the GOK to send invitations to Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, Finance and Transportation Ministers from the 38 invited AGOA-eligible countries. ¶4. On the margins of the full meeting, ECON/C discussed with full committee Chair Richard Sindiga the possibility of the US holding a stand-up closing reception instead of sponsoring lunch on August 5. The Chair said the GOK would agree to the closing reception as long as it includes all forum participants. If the US decides to sponsor the closing reception, he said, the GOK will take responsibility for holding the lunch on August 5. The GOK said that all social events will be held under a tent on the KICC grounds instead of in the Tsavo Ballroom as originally planned. The confirmed forum social events are: August 3: -- Dinner/Cultural event for all participants, sponsored by civil society August 4: -- Lunch for all participants, sponsored by private sector -- Cocktail for all participants, sponsored by American Chamber of Commerce - Kenya August 5: -- Breakfast with African Ministers, sponsored by private sector -- Gala Dinner for all participants, sponsored by the GOK August 6: -- Breakfast with US delegates, sponsored by private sector -- Lunch for all participants, sponsored by Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) -------------- Joint Press Conference & Media Accreditation -------------- ¶5. At the June 18 meeting, ECON/C announced the USG interagency had approved the logo. On June 23, in a joint press conference at the Ministry of Trade, Ambassador Ranneberger and Minister of Trade Kimunya announced the forum, issued the joint press statement, and unveiled the official logo. ¶6. On the margins of the full meeting, econoff discussed the plans for media accreditation with the chair of the Publicity Sub-Committee in more detail. The Publicity Sub-Committee is working with the Department of Information and Public Communications for media accreditation, and it will employ the standard media accreditation process for the forum. The Ministry of Information and Communication, through the Department of Information, accredits all journalists who practice in Kenya. ¶7. The standard media accreditation requirements are: -- A letter of introduction from the organization or media house being represented that indicates the position one holds, e.g. reporter, cameraman, etc. -- For a freelance journalist, a letter from an editor of a Media house/Syndicate to which the journalist contributes. -- Standard media accreditation form -- Copy of current passport -- A fee of Ksh 4,000 payable to the Department of Information -- An applicant may be required to obtain other documents such as visas from other government departments and agencies. Typically, media houses are required to go to the Department of Information to be accredited. We suggested that they set up an accreditation office at the KICC for the AGOA forum instead. Journalists will also need to register through the AGOA forum registration system in order to receive a badge. The Publicity Sub-Committee plans to limit the number of representatives from each media house. Plans are not final; however, forum organizers discussed limiting reps to three from television outlets, one from radio, and two from print. Once the details of the accreditation process are finalized, the sub-committee plans on posting the information and forms on the AGOA website. -------------- Security -------------- ¶8. RSO stressed the importance of thorough vetting of registrants and insisted on direct meetings with police and intelligence officials to further refine the comprehensive security plan. The Chair of the full committee said the Security Sub-Committee needs to take a lead role in the vetting process, and ECON/C requested more details of the vetting process from the Security Sub-Committee. Econ/C confirmed that there will be no public access to the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) during the forum events. (Note: resident merchants had sought permission for their clients, once screened, to enter the facility under escort. End Note.) RSO, through the Diplomatic Security Protective Liaison Division, has established contact with the heads of respective agency protection details that will travel with cabinet-level delegates. During a June 23 meeting with RSO, police and intelligence officials vowed to provide a comprehensive security plan that includes the numbers of officers and their respective units. RSO held a separate meeting with security officials from Intercontinental Hotel to discuss plans for securing the hotel. -------------- Badging and Accreditation -------------- ¶9. The badging and registration system was placed online June 22 and is currently available through the AGOA website, www.agoaforumkenya.go.ke, for participant registration until July ¶17. Registration for nongovernmental participants will not be accepted after that date so that there is ample time to vet all participants. ¶10. Action request: Post welcomes USG interagency team reaction to the private sector's request for United States Trade Representative (USTR) Kirk, along with the Minister of Trade Kimunya, to open the trade exhibition on August 4. Post would also appreciate any feedback regarding the identification of US speakers for the various forum events so that we may work with the GOK on July 1 to further refine the overall forum program. Ranneberger