Press Release No. 13/321

Press Release: IMF, Kenya to Co-Host Conference to Discuss the Country’s Economic Success, Prospects and Challenges

September 4, 2013

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Government of Kenya will co-host a conference on September 17-18, 2013, in Nairobi to explore the policy challenges Kenya faces in building upon its economic success to achieve emerging market status. The event will bring together participants from government, the private sector, civil society, and the development community with the goal of broadening the dialogue on the vision for Kenya’s future.

“We are very much looking forward to listening to all our Kenyan partners at this crucial moment in the country’s development,” said Antoinette Sayeh, Director of the IMF’s African Department. “We have had a very constructive dialogue with the Kenyan authorities, and this conference will provide an opportunity to open the discussion to all stakeholders.”

The keynote address at the conference will be delivered by His Excellency Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya. The conference will highlight the macroeconomic progress made by Kenya in recent years, including in the context of an Extended Credit Facility with the IMF that was approved in January 2011, as well as in the implementation of structural and institutional reforms. It will also take stock of the key remaining challenges that Kenya needs to address in order to spur faster, inclusive economic growth.

“Kenya has undertaken far-reaching economic and structural reforms over the years,” said Domenico Fanizza, the IMF mission chief for Kenya. “The purpose of the conference will be to showcase its track record of sound economic management and demonstrate that effective economic reforms have a high pay off. The conference will also highlight the growing contribution of Kenya’s traditional and nontraditional development partners.”

More information on the conference can also be found at the following link: http://www.imf.org/external/np/seminars/eng/2013/kenya/index.htm