Kenyan envoys will sign a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to redefine their roles, with a significant focus on promoting Kenya's business interests globally.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua emphasized the government's commitment to enhancing the country's business profile during a meeting with Kenyans living in Italy on Monday evening.
Under the new arrangement, Kenyan ambassadors and high commissioners will pivot their efforts towards marketing the nation's leading produce, including tea, coffee, horticultural products, and others.
Gachagua underscored this shift away from conventional diplomacy, stating, "All these ambassadors are going to market Kenyan products and hold frequent discussions with the host country on how to get the best deals for our products."
The Deputy President revealed that the Kenya Kwanza administration is in the process of reviewing the envoys' roles, intending to allocate 70 per cent of their responsibilities to promoting and securing favourable deals for agricultural exports.
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He highlighted the need to move beyond the traditional approach of attending meetings and social events, emphasizing the ambassadors' crucial role in advancing the country's commercial interests.
To ensure accountability and track progress, the envoys will be required to submit monthly reports detailing their efforts in promoting Kenyan products and the business deals they have facilitated.
"We will soon meet with all our ambassadors, high commissioners, and their deputies, and they will sign a two-year Memorandum of Understanding committing to these targets," Gachagua declared.
In addition to the renewed focus on business promotion, the Gachagua urged Kenyans living abroad to collaborate closely with the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, a specialized body established to address their specific concerns.
Gachagua acknowledged the diaspora's pivotal role in the country's economic development, citing remittances as the leading foreign exchange earner, surpassing revenue from tourism, coffee, and tea.
To further support the diaspora community, Gachagua said the government is actively exploring measures to protect their investments in Kenya and encourage increased remittances.
"We are looking at how the government can guarantee their investments back home. Many of them have been conned and swindled of their hard-earned money, but we want to create a Diaspora Fund guaranteed by the government so that as they come home, their savings are intact," Gachagua stated.
With these new measures in place, Kenyan envoys are poised to play a more prominent role in promoting the nation's economic interests and elevating Kenya's global business presence.
Their focused efforts on marketing agricultural produce and negotiating favourable deals are expected to yield positive outcomes for the nation's export sector and overall economic growth.
