1,200 delegates expected at Nairobi summit that Obama will attend

NAIROBI: About 1,200 delegates are expected at the July summit that President Barrack Obama will attend in Nairobi.

Kenya was selected to host the Global Entrepreneurship Summit due to its economic growth and history in entrepreneurship.

US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec said the summit will offer entrepreneurs, the business community and the Government a chance to network.

"We will have a Government session and an initial session for women and youth entrepreneurs. The focus of the summit is to raise capital for entrepreneurs and they have a chance to pitch ideas to say venture capitalists," Godec said.

The summit scheduled for July 24 to 26 will coincide with the visit by US President Barack Obama.

Speaking to journalists Tuesday at the US Embassy in Nairobi, Godec said they were still discussing Obama's itinerary, but said the visit is geared towards strengthening the 51-year partnership between the two nations.

"This is a historic visit for the country but it is also a bilateral visit. We are in the process of making decisions on where President Obama will visit and the activities he will be engaged in. He will, however, attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit and participate in a way," he said.

The ambassador did not disclose how many days Obama would be in the country, adding that more information will be diverged over time if necessary.