Ambassador Amina Mohamed’s shot at the race to lead the World Trade Organisation may have stumbled, but all is not lost.
Indications are clear that either Mexico’s Herminio Blanco or Brazil’s Roberto Azevedo will hold the coveted top job, making it the first time a third world country will be heading the global trade body.
Although Ms Mohamed and another candidate from Ghana were ejected in Round One of the selection this month, Kenya still has a chance to position herself as a leader in the global trade agenda.
Back home, the nomination of Mohamed — a renowned expert in international trade negotiations — for the position of Cabinet Secretary Foreign Affairs, places Kenya at an advantage in the global trade.
But the key challenge for Kenya is to increase its share of the global trade. President Uhuru has already made it clear that enhancing regional integration and promoting Kenya’s external trade would be a priority.
In his new Cabinet, he has created two ministries — Industrialisation & Enterprise Development and that of East Africa Affairs, Commerce & Tourism, to champion this agenda. The job is well cut out for the two ministries to grow our local industries, expand markets for our products and attract new investments.
In the past, we have seen firms close shop and relocate to countries such as South Africa and Egypt, as it is uncompetitive to manufacture goods locally due to high costs of production.
The fact is Kenya needs to grow her trade position and increase the exports base.
