By Peter OBIORA InvestAdvocate

Lagos (INVESTADVOCATE)-The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Wednesday said it will meet Kenyan authorities to explore its economic challenges by co-hosting an economic conference with its Government in Nairobi on September 17-18, 2013.

According to the Fund, the conference is to explore the policy challenges Kenya faces in building upon its economic success to achieve emerging market status.

Antoinette Sayeh, Director of the IMF’s African Department said they are very much looking forward to listening to all its Kenyan partners at this crucial moment in the country’s development.

“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,” Sayeh said.

The IMF said the conference will highlight the macroeconomic progress made by Kenya in recent years, including in the context of an Extended Credit Facility (ECF) with the Fund that was approved in January 2011, as well as in the implementation of structural and institutional reforms.

Apart from the above, the conference will also take stock of the key remaining challenges that Kenya needs to address in order to spur faster, inclusive economic growth.

Domenico Fanizza, the IMF mission chief for Kenya said the country has undertaken far-reaching economic and structural reforms over the years.

Fanizza affirmed that 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 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,” the IMF said.