Nairobi to Host Dialogue on Food Security and Rural Development

TWS Nicholas Waigwa

The International Center for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Eastern Africa Grain Council will hold a two day dialogue forum on the 8^th and 9^th of July 2015.

The event will present policy makers and other stakeholders from the East Africa Community (EAC) an opportunity to explore how global trade rules and national policies affecting agricultural markets could best promote food security and support rural development.

The ICTSD says the dialogue event, to be held in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi will constitute a unique opportunity for East Africa Community Geneva – based negotiators and national and negotiating strategies in advance of the upcoming 10^th Ministerial World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) conference in Nairobi.

World Trade Organization’s 157 members are currently negotiating a work program on the remaining Doha issues ahead of the July 2015 deadline.

The aim of the negotiation is to achieve major reform of the international trading system through the introduction of lower trade barriers and revised trade rules.

The 10^th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference is schedule for 15-18 December 2015.

 Kenya successfully offered to host the conference which is the top-most decision making body of the WTO following Turkeys withdrawal of their offer to host the MC10 in favor of Kenya.