KENYA CONSIDERS USG PREFERENCE FOR 2009 AGOA FORUM FORMAT

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000325 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 AF/PD CLAUDIA ANYASO STATE ALSO FOR EEB/TPP/BTA AMY HOLMAN STATE PLEASE PASS USAID/EA AND USAID/AFR/SD BRUNO CORNELIO TREASURY FOR DAN PETERS AND REBECCA KLEIN COMMERCE FOR KEVIN BOYD, ALICIA ROBINSON, AND BECKY ERKUL AGRICULTURE FOR DON EVANS AND CATHY MCKINNELL SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC AMGT ECON ETRD AGOA PGOV PREL KE SUBJECT: KENYA CONSIDERS USG PREFERENCE FOR 2009 AGOA FORUM FORMAT REFS: (A) 02-11-09 AGOA INTERAGENCY TELCON WITH MISSION KENYA AGOA COMMITTEE (B) NAIROBI 0177 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. This cable is not/not for internet distribution. ¶2. Summary. After informing Kenya's 2009 AGOA Forum preparatory committee members February 12 that the USG prefers keeping the forum's standing format, rather than moving private sector events to the opening day, August 4, ECON/C soothed disappointed feelings among private sector sub-committee representatives, notably Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) CEO Betty Maina, by pointing out that there would be ample opportunities for business people to meet with USG and African officials at proposed breakfast and lunch gatherings. The GOK supports the private sector proposal and there was no conclusion reached about the order of events over the three days. Visiting State AF/EPS and AF/EX officers emphasized Washington's concerns that the Kenyan organizers ensure that proper security measures be in place and that accreditation and badging procedures provide for appropriate differentiation among principals, delegates, private and civil society participants, and journalists. End Summary. ¶3. At the February 12 meeting of Kenya's 2009 AGOA Forum preparatory committee, ECON/C announced: -- that Washington had approved the proposed draft of the joint press statement; he requested that the Government of Kenya (GOK) review the statement and, if the GOK has no objections or amendments, that the two sides coordinate the release of the statement. He indicated that the release should not go out until the wbsite is operational. -- that we would proceed in arranging a joint press conference involving Minister of Trade Amos Kimunya and US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger once the joint press release is acceptable to both parties. (Subsequent to the meeting, the GOK provided its approval to the joint press statement as approved by Washington agencies.) -- that the GOK's proposed forum theme, daily format, and agenda had been submitted to the USG AGOA interagency team for its prompt consideration and response. -- that the USG AGOA interagency team had reviewed Kenya's proposal that the opening day be devoted to private and civil society events, that the second day be the African Trade Ministers Ministerial, and that the third day be the U.S.-Africa Ministerial (ref B). ECON/C informed the preparatory committee that the USG interagency groups had decided that in order to accommodate the participation of U.S. principals it would be best to keep the standing format, i.e., on Wednesday, August 4, the Africans would hold their ministerial the day before the actual opening of the AGOA Forum on Thursday, August ¶5. Friday, August 6, would be devoted to private sector and civil society events and a number of U.S./Africa breakout sessions running into the third day from day 2 (ref A). -- that the Department of Commerce and Department of State (AF/PPD) would be identifying U.S. counterparts to link directly with the Kenyan private sector lead (Kenya Association of Manufacturers) and the Kenyan civil society lead (Kenya Civil Society Alliance - we have asked for written confirmation of this from the GOK). ¶4. Betty Maina, CEO of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) and head of the private sector subcommittee, and other private sector subcommittee members were noticeably dismayed by the USG decision to keep the old format. Maina said that the private sector has little opportunity for interaction during the forum with insufficient opportunity to have input and influence. ECON/C emphasized there would be several opportunities for private sector participants to hold talks with American and African government leaders at the breakfasts and lunches proposed by KAM and the private sector subcommittee. He also reminded attendees that there would likely be overlap on day 3 between U.S./Africa breakout sessions and the private sector/civil society day ensuring more interaction between business and government. ECON/C added that the USG is interested in making the entire event as open as possible to all parties so that there would be further opportunity for engagement. There was no conclusion at the close of discussions on this topic with the GOK clearly (although not actively) supporting the Kenyan private sector position. ¶5. Joining ECON/C at the February 12 meeting were MGT/C and AF/EX and AF/EPS TDYers. The Washington visitors emphasized to their hosts the importance of proper accreditation and badging, as well as our expectation that adequate security arrangements be in place to monitor carefully who is admitted to the conference venue. At both the meeting and a subsequent lunch with three key Kenyan organizers, they presented the colored badge system used in Washington 2008 to differentiate among principals, delegates, private and civil society participants, and journalists. The Kenyans were clearly receptive to the suggestion that they adopt a similar system. Ranneberger