Brussels, 18 February 2014/ ACP: A high level parliamentary delegation led by the Speaker of the Kenyan Senate Hon. Ekwee Ethuro were received at the ACP House on Tuesday by the Secretary General H.E Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni and his staff.

The group was in Brussels as guests of the Belgian Senate but took the opportunity to have discussions with the ACP Secretariat on a number of topical issues.
Hon. Ethuro shared Kenya’s ambition to become a “world class country” as shown by the country’s Vision 2030 programme, and its interest in promoting trade and communication within and amongst regions in Africa. The Speaker highlighted South-South cooperation as a key opportunity to pursue.
The Secretary General reiterated Kenya’s place as a “star” of Africa, being an economic and political powerhouse in the region, while also currently holding chairmanship of the East African Community (EAC) regional bloc.
The Secretary General and his staff updated the senators about programming activity for the Intra-ACP cooperation of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF), progress on the ACP-EU Economic Partnership Agreements, the work of the Eminent Persons Group on the future perspectives of the ACP Group, and political developments under the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.
Both parties agreed that the growing influence of China in ACP regions cannot be ignored. The Secretary General said one of the main issues discussed on the future prospects of the ACP Group, is expanding partnerships to emerging economies such as the BRIC countries.
The meeting ended with the Ambassador of Kenya, H.E Mr Johnson Weru inviting support from the ACP Secretariat in preparations for the upcoming Africa-EU Summit in Brussels in April.
– ACP Press
(Photo top: Kenyan senators and officials led by Speaker of the Senate Hon. Ekwee Ethuro meet with the ACP Secretary General H.E Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni (shaking hands); and above, with Secretariat senior staff and experts at the ACP House in Brussels, 18 February 2014)