By VPPS
Kenya’s request for a two-year extension of the sugar safeguards regime has been endorsed at the just concluded Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) summit.
The decision taken at the 15th Heads of State and Governments summit, where Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka is representing Kenya, is sweet news for cane farmers.
The Comesa Council of Ministers approved the extension, which was requested by Trade Minister Chirau Ali.
There was apprehension about the extension because the existing safeguards, which end in February, had gone beyond the Comesa limit of eight years and were at par with World Trade Organisation’s ten-year maximum limit. |
Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka with Bingu wa Mutharika, President of Malawi, during the closing of the 15th Comesa Heads of States and Government Summit in Lilongwe, Malawi. Picture: VPPS |
Kenya argued its case saying it had met all the other conditions imposed after the last extension aimed at enabling the country’s sugar sector become competitive, except the conclusion of the privatisation of the five publicly owned sugar mills.
Addressing the summit whose theme was Harnessing Science for Technology and Development, Kalonzo highlighted Kenya’s research and policy in ICT, manufacturing, agro-processing and value addition.
According to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Trade, Abdulrazaq Ali, the country has a research and application mechanism on early maturing and ISO cross content cane.
Another fulfilled requirement is for the formulation of energy policy on co-generation to for sugar mills to produce power for the national grid.
Meanwhile, the Vice- President has called on the members of communities in Isiolo to avoid retaliatory attacks.
He urged the leaders from the area to reconcile the communities saying constant raids and killings were a stumbling block to development.
Kalonzo, at the same time, sent a message of condolence to the families of the seven people killed in the violent clashes with raiders.
The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
join