SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. MWAI KIBAKI, C.G.H., M.P., PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA DURING THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE 15TH BIENNIAL KENYA AMBASSADORS/HIGH COMMISSIONERS CONFERENCE, LEISURE LODGE, MOMBASA, 27TH JULY, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with great pleasure that I join you today at the opening of the 15th Biennial Conference of Kenya's Ambassadors and High Commissioners. I consider this event of particular importance as it provides the opportunity for a focused exchange of ideas amongst those responsible for representing Kenya throughout the world.

It also provides the prospect for better coordination between the Government and our diplomatic missions with the foremost goal of improving efficiency and effectiveness in our interaction with the rest of the world. I am optimistic that the outcome of your deliberations in this conference will go a long way in promoting our national interests at the international arena. Indeed, I am pleased to note that you have selected as the theme of your conference "Leveraging Kenya's Diplomacy for Enhanced Competitiveness".

Ladies and Gentlemen,
During the last conference, I briefed you on the unveiling of VISION TWENTY THIRTY as a vehicle for creating a globally competitive and prosperous Kenya . I also provided you with details of what we were already doing as a Government in pursuance of our common goal of increasing the country's competitiveness.

I am glad to inform you that the implementation of the VISION TWENTY THIRTY First Medium Term Plan is well underway. As Kenya 's Ambassadors and High Commissioners, you have a major role to play in its successful implementation. In this regard, you are expected, first and foremost, to project a positive image of Kenya by giving correct information about the country in your regular interactions with the Governments, the media, the public, and other interested parties in the countries of your accreditation. This is particularly critical as we must repackage our image which was dented by the political difficulties that we faced early last year.

You are also expected to continuously promote Kenya 's strategic economic interests. This can only be possible if you become proactive and evolve strategies that will market Kenya as an attractive and competitive destination with excellent opportunities and facilities for foreign investors, businessmen and tourists.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
As you are aware, infrastructure development is a critical component of VISION TWENTY THIRTY. A large part of the financing of infrastructure projects scheduled for implementation under the Medium Term Plan 2008-2012 is expected to come from the private sector in the form of both local and Foreign Direct Investment.

To facilitate this, the Government has developed a policy on Public Private Partnerships and the modalities for its implementation will soon be put in place. This is where your role as Kenya 's top diplomats is very critical. We expect you to devise aggressive strategies for attracting investors to partner with the Government in infrastructure development.

Besides, infrastructure development, trade and investment are critical to the growth of our economy. You similarly have an important role to play in this as Kenyans expect you to expand access to traditional markets, explore new markets and attract foreign direct investment.

You are, therefore, expected to engage our partners more vigorously and also strengthen trade support networks through our Embassies as a means of trade facilitation and enhanced competitiveness.

Trade and investment should, however, not be the only priority for your respective Missions. We should also tap the vibrant services sector to offset the potential weaknesses in our export-oriented manufacturing sector. I have in mind services such as medical and conference tourism, education, transportation, ICT, banking and finance.
We need to diversify our economy in order to face the uncertain global environment. I, therefore, urge you to explore new ways and means and even propose bold choices that will enable us to fully leverage our considerable diplomatic potential in support of Kenya 's competitiveness.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
On the social front, the Government is building on the success of the free primary education programme and launched the Free Secondary tuition Education programme early last year. As a result, we have succeeded in increasing secondary school enrolment from 800,000 in 2002 to over 1.2 million students in this year. To sustain these important programmes, we expect you to help us in continuously engaging our friends and partners who have been assisting in funding our free education programmes.

In view of the emphasis we have put on manpower and skills development over the years, Kenya has become a net exporter of skilled manpower. It is, therefore, important to integrate the Kenyan Diaspora in national development as they have become a major stakeholder in both our domestic and foreign policies. The Diaspora is not only crucial for remittances back home but perhaps more importantly for transfer of skills, knowledge and technology.

In the same vein, we must seek to promote access, by Kenyans, to the international labor market. I am pleased to note that you will be devoting a substantial part of your discussions on the Diaspora and you have even gone a step ahead and invited representatives of the large Kenyan Diaspora to take part in the discussions.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Peace and security at the national and regional levels is a prerequisite for development. The attainment of our economic objectives is, therefore, dependent on our success in resolving conflicts that threaten peace and security.

That is why we are fully engaged in finding a lasting solution to the difficulties in Somalia . The escalating crisis in Somalia and the related problem of piracy off Somalia 's coastline are of great concern to our security and competitiveness.

I am, therefore, pleased that part of your time will be spent on discussing how our diplomacy could be effectively utilized to mitigate the effects of international terrorism on Kenya 's prosperity and competitiveness. We must continue to be actively involved in regional peace initiatives and play our role to ensure stability, particularly in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region.

Kenya continues to be a firm believer in regional integration and shared prosperity. This explains our active participation in regional bodies such as the East African Community, IGAD and COMESA. We must also remain active in the African Union and the United Nations as well as international organizations such as the Commonwealth and the Non-Aligned Movement. These organizations have been the vehicle through which Kenya has sought to promote both multilateralism and South-South Cooperation.

At the multi-lateral level, global issues such as climate change are critical to our survival. It is important, therefore, that we remain fully engaged with the UN on this matter, particularly as we move towards the Copenhagen Summit later this year where the post-Kyoto international environmental governance arrangements will be high on the agenda.

In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, I am aware that Foreign Ministries around the world are actively engaged in a complex process of change and adaptation to an international environment that is volatile and unpredictable. I am happy to note that you have submitted for cabinet approval a new foreign policy framework that will guide Kenya 's interaction with the rest of the world.

You have also restructured and rationalized the Ministry to adapt to changes in the global environment. It is gratifying to note that you are changing with the times and making the necessary adjustments in your operations. I expect you to discuss at this conference how to move to the next level and re-define the role of our embassies in view of the changing nature of diplomacy.
It is imperative to be acutely aware that management of our foreign relations is a critical element in our journey towards establishing a politically stable, middle-income country enjoying a high quality of life. You have to be driven by a patriotic spirit inspired by a genuine desire to see the country on the path to prosperity in driving our foreign policy.

In your deliberations, I hope you will come up with clear objectives and outputs that will position our country on a pedestal of economic advancement and competitiveness.
It is now my pleasure to declare the 15th Ambassadors and High Commissioners Biennial Conference officially open, and to wish you fruitful deliberations.

Thank You and God bless you all