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Nairobi to host WTO meeting


The World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) ministerial conference will be held in Nairobi next December after Turkey withdrew its bid to host the global event.

 

In a letter to the chairman of the General Council of WTO, the Turkish government said it stepped down in favour of Kenya following consultations with Foreign Affairs secretary Amina Mohamed.

The meeting will be the 10th such biennial event, the ninth having been held in Indonesia in 2013.

The WTO ministerial conference is a top decision-making organ of the global trade body.

It’s in light of this that countries across the world have often bid to play host to the conference.

Deputy President William Ruto had earlier led the country in lobbying to host the conference.

Kenya, the largest economy in East and Central Africa, is a founding member of WTO and enjoys cordial relations with the trade body, according to the Foreign Affairs ministry.

Ms Mohamed had earlier made a failed attempt to replace former WTO chief Pascal Lamy.

The successful bid to host the event comes as a vote of confidence on a country that has lately been rocked by a wave of terrorist attacks.