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Kenya Expects WTO Conference To Inject $26M Into Economy

Kenya Expects WTO Conference To Inject $26M Into Economy

Kenya expects the World Trade Organization (WTO) tenth Ministerial Conference scheduled to take place in the country’s capital next week to inject about $26 million into the local economy, Tourism Minister Najib Balala said.

The WTO Ministerial event will the first to be held in Africa and is expected to host more than 7,000 attendees from all over the world between December 15 and 18.

“We expect an average delegate spend of 3,750 dollars. This should inject approximately $26 million to the Kenyan economy through the multiplier effect,” Balala told a news conference.

“This is the biggest conference ever to be hosted in Sub-Saharan Africa and we are not taking chances in ensuring that we meet the international standards,” he added.

Balala said the conference will highlight Kenya as an attractive travel destination and would showcase the East African nations as the best place for conference tourism,Xinhua reported.

The country’s tourism sector has seen reduced numbers in the last couple of years de to increased insecurity from Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab Islamic militants making attacks in the country in protest of Kenya’s army forays into war-torn Somalia to bring peace.

The nation has this year hosted US President Barack Obama, who attended the Global Entrepreneur Summit, and Catholic global head, Pope Francis, which Balala said has improved the profile of the country among international travelers.

“They have also contributed to profiling of Kenya as a safe destination and have endorsed Nairobi as a regional business hub,” he noted.