NAIROBI DECEMBER 15, 2015(CISA)-The World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat on Monday kicked-off the 10th Ministerial Conference at the Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC).

Speaking after he officially  opening  the conference, President Uhuru Kenyatta called for the strengthening of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to enable it fulfill its mandate effectively, saying no economy can exist in isolation.

He said the World Trade organization established on the foundation of non-discrimination, a rules-based global market economy, trade openness, transparency, and the rule of law – is a central pillar of global economic governance.

President Kenyatta observed that the conference was a valuable mechanism for strengthening the rules-based Multilateral Trading System.

He said the questions and thematic focus of the Nairobi China Round Table establish the right policy context regarding Africa’s position in WTO in relation to the international community.

The ministerial Conference of the WTO is being attended over 5,000 delegates and Kenya is hoping to tackle several issues including barriers to international trade, regulations on sensitive technology and agricultural subsidies paid by rich countries to their farmers.

The meeting is also seen as crucial step towards the conclusion of trade talks that have been ongoing on since 2001 under what is officially referred to as the “Doha Roundtable.”

The WTO was formed in 1995, taking over from the now defunct General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).