Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NAIROBI765
2009-04-16 11:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Nairobi
Cable title:  

AGOA FORUM UPDATE: GOK PRESENTS FINAL DRAFT PROGRAM WITH

Tags:  ASEC AMGT ECON ETRD AGOA PGOV PREL KE 
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UNCLAS NAIROBI 000765 

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: AGOA FORUM UPDATE: GOK PRESENTS FINAL DRAFT PROGRAM WITH
CO-CHAIRS; PRIVATE SECTOR PROGRESSES

REFS: (A) NAIROBI 325
(B) NAIROBI 372
(C) NAIROBI 421
(D) NAIROBI 559

This cable is not/not for internet distribution.

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000765

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: AGOA FORUM UPDATE: GOK PRESENTS FINAL DRAFT PROGRAM WITH
CO-CHAIRS; PRIVATE SECTOR PROGRESSES

REFS: (A) NAIROBI 325
(B) NAIROBI 372
(C) NAIROBI 421
(D) NAIROBI 559

This cable is not/not for internet distribution.


1. This is an action message; please see para 10.


2. Summary: During the April 9 meeting of the AGOA Forum
Preparatory Meeting, the Government of Kenya (GOK) presented a final
draft of the full three-day program. After consulting with
embassies of AGOA-eligible countries, the GOK accepted all but one
session co-chair proposed by the US interagency team. The GOK also
proposed holding a separate ministerial closing ceremony following
lunch on the final day of the forum. The private sector
sub-committee has made significant progress planning a five-day
trade fair, beginning August 3, for forum participants and the
public. Econ/C noted that an open exhibition would be a security
concern for the US delegation and discouraged public access to the
event. Econ/C emphasized the importance of effective registration
and badging for a successful forum and requested a written plan from
the GOK detailing the registration process from start to finish.
End Summary.

--------------
GOK Accepts Most Session Co-Chairs
--------------


3. During the April 9 meeting of the AGOA Forum Preparatory
Meeting, the Government of Kenya (GOK) presented a final draft of
the full three-day program for the forum. The draft - based on the

agreed theme: "Realizing the Full Potential of AGOA through
Expansion of Trade and Investment" - incorporates all USG-proposed
African co-chairs except Mozambique for the Intellectual Property
Rights (IPR) breakout session. On the margins of the Preparatory
Meeting, Lina Ochieng, the chair of the technical sub-committee,
explained -- without providing details -- that the GOK believes that
Kenya is better placed than Mozambique to lead an IPR session.
Note: The GOK did not appear aware of its proposed role as co-chair
for the Good Governance and Enabling Investment Environment breakout
session. (Comment: Our take is that the GOK hopes to co-chair a
session but remains non-committal about the subject matter. End
Comment.)


4. The GOK proposed holding a separate ministerial closing ceremony
from 14:15 to 16:00 following lunch on August 6, the final day of
the forum. The Chair of the full committee proposed holding a
separate lunch after the closing ceremony in an effort to retain
high-level delegates for the duration of the event. Econ/C
suggested combining the lunch and closing ceremony into one session
12:30-14:00, as originally discussed by the GOK and the US
interagency team.

--------------
Private Sector/Civil Society Progress
--------------


5. The private sector sub-committee continues to make progress on

AGOA Forum preparations. The sub-committee expressed full support
for forum sequencing and welcomed the opportunity to provide a
read-out of the private sector event during the ministerial on
August 5. In the private sector event plenary, organizers expect to
hold discussions on three cross-cutting issues: enhanced trade
integration and expansion, specific experiences and issues with
AGOA, and the question of competitiveness in Africa with special
attention paid to supply side factors. In breakout sessions, the
private sector will raise three topics for discussion: what the
private sector expects to achieve from AGOA, successes and
challenges since the inception of AGOA, and recommendations for the
African Ministers and the US delegation. Private sector committee
members are working to identify speakers for the plenaries and
breakout sessions and to harmonize their program with civil society
so that outcomes to the ministerial can be delivered effectively.
Econ/C requested that the private sector include a session on
public-private partnerships in its program.


6. The private sector sub-committee has hired an exhibition
organizer and has begun mobilizing the participation of private
sector partners and embassies of AGOA-eligible countries. The
five-day exhibit, opening on August 3, will showcase goods and
services as well as facilitate business to business networking. An
AGOA Exhibition web site -- www.eeoevents.com/agoa/ -- is now
available with registration details, pricing, and floor plans and is
linked to the official GOK AGOA website. The GOK requested feedback
from the USG about the availability of a US delegate to open the
exhibit. Econ/C said it was unlikely that a high-level US delegate
will be in Nairobi by August 3 to open the exhibit. After the Chair
stated that the exhibition will be open to the general public (in a
space detached from the main venue with a separate entrance for the
public) Econ/C said an open event would be a security concern for
the USG, and that the GOK could have a successful event with only
registered forum participants attending the trade show.


7. Econ/C stated that the civil society component of the forum is
important to the US delegation and announced an April 14 DVC to link
the US civil society lead, the Sullivan Foundation, to the civil
society sub-committee. Econ/C clarified that the USG is providing
funding for civil society participants from African countries but
not for US civil society participation and encouraged video
conferencing as a way to expand exposure to the forum to members of
civil society who are not able to travel to the event.

--------------
GOK Progress
--------------


8. Now that the theme is finalized, the GOK will proceed with
sending invitations to AGOA-eligible countries (except Guinea and
Madagascar). The conferencing sub-committee is working to ensure
adequate space for all forum events, particularly on day one when
there are three concurrent events taking place: the African
consultative group, private sector meetings, and civil society
events. This sub-committee is also focused on finalizing
registration and badging processes.


9. Econ/C emphasized the importance of effective registration and
badging for a successful event and requested a written plan from the

GOK detailing the process from start to finish. Econ/C also
requested a written list of registration fees for all forum events
and possible dates from the GOK for a joint press statement
involving Minister of Trade Amos Kimunya and Ambassador Ranneberger.
(Note: Our proposed dates have thus far conflicted with Trade
Minister Kimunya's schedule. End note.)


10. Action request: Post seeks US interagency team guidance
regarding the appropriate breakout session for the GOK to co-chair,
the addition of a ministerial closing on August 6, the possibility
of a US delegate to open the trade exhibition on August 3, and the
USG position on opening the trade fair to the general public.

Ranneberger