Kenya seeks to host crucial economic conference next year

Kenya's chances of hosting the next World Economic Forum for Africa got a major boost yesterday after President Uhuru Kenyatta held a meeting with Founder Klaus Schwab.

Both leaders, who are attending the global infrastructure summit in China, met on the sidelines of the conference to deliberate on the matter.

"The meeting resolved the international organisation for public-private partnership would send a team to inspect Kenya's facilities to give a green light for the yearly event, held in May," said Manoah Esipisu, the President's Spokesman immediately after the closed-door meeting, ended.

Industrialisation Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohammed confirmed Prof Schwab was receptive to Kenya's bid.

"The leaders' meeting centred on Kenya's bid to host the forum in May, 2018. They discussed the processes and steps taken, which will involve the evaluation of the venues," said Mohammed.

He exuded confidence that soon Kenya will get a positive feedback.

Ethiopia has also made a bid to host the annual event. South Africa hosted this year's forum in Durban.

A win for Kenya will be a major milestone in promoting local tourism.