KENYA FORMALLY SETS AUGUST 3-7 AS THE OFFICIAL DATES FOR

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000049 STATE PASS USTR CONNIE HAMILTON, PATRICK DEAN COLEMAN, AND WILLIAM JACKSON STATE FOR AF/FO, AF/E, AF/EPS ANN BREITER, MARY JOHNSON, GABRIELLE MALLORY, AND TAWANNA DAVIDSON; AND AF/EX SYLVIE MARTINEZ STATE ALSO FOR 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 FORMALLY SETS AUGUST 3-7 AS THE OFFICIAL DATES FOR THE 2009 AGOA FORUM IN NAIROBI REFS: (A) 08 NAIROBI 2839 (B) 08 NAIROBI 2594 AND PREVIOUS (C) 01/06/09 YOUNG-BREITER EMAIL ¶1. This cable is not/not for internet distribution. ¶2. This is an action request for the USG 2009 AGOA Forum interagency preparatory committee. See paragraph 4. ¶3. By formal diplomatic note dated 8 January 2009, the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs notified post that "the Government of Kenya has set the exact dates for Kenya to host the 8th AGOA Forum. The dates of 3rd to 7th August, 2009 are therefore the official dates for hosting the event." ¶4. Post would welcome written concurrence of these dates from the USG 2009 AGOA Forum interagency preparatory committee. Post's AGOA interagency preparatory committee would also welcome Washington's feedback on the Forum's proposed program, theme, and draft press statement announcing the event; and its reaction to the Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) in downtown Nairobi as the preferred venue and the Nairobi Intercontinental Hotel as the base hotel of the official USG delegation. Post requests additional information on the anticipated size of the USG delegation to ensure that sufficient rooms are blocked (ref C). ¶5. Please note: The Kenyan Ministry of Trade will host its next 2009 AGOA Forum full preparatory committee meeting on January 15. USG feedback before this meeting would enable Post to announce USG acceptance of the August 3-7 timeframe and begin to move quickly on logistical arrangements. -------------- Principal GOK 2009 AGOA Forum Contacts -------------- Simon Chacha Nyangi Secretary for External Trade, Ministry of Trade Chairman, GOK 2009 AGOA Forum Main Preparatory Committee Email: snyangi@tradeandindustry.go.ke Cell Phone: 254-722-523-114 Lina Ochieng Senior Commercial Officer, Ministry of Trade Chair, GOK 2009 AGOA Forum Technical Subcommittee Email: linaochieng@hotmail.com Cell Phone: 254-729-829-363 Catherine Kiiri Senior Administrative Assistant, Ministry of Trade Secretary, GOK 2009 AGOA Forum Main Preparatory Committee Email: ckiiri@yahoo.com Cell Phone: 254-738-408-115 Direct Line: 254-20-222-8271 Ranneberger