- Mishra is the chairman of the founder and director of the Mediheal Group of Hospitals.
- President William Ruto will not be attending the conference and will instead be represented by “organs of the Africa Union”.
Image: MAGDALINE SAYA
Former Kesses MP Swarup Mishra is among the business moguls from Africa who have been invited to the 2nd Russia-Africa summit.
The two-day summit to be held at St Petersburg in Russia begins Thursday and brings together heads of state from the continent among other participants.
Mishra who is the chairman of the founder and director of the Mediheal Group of Hospitals will be the speaker in a health session.
“We would like to invite you to join the discussion by participating as a speaker in the session-Export of Russian medical services,” the letter signed by А. Kobyakov, an advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin and executive secretary of the organizing committee reads.
Highlighting its importance, the official notes that the summit seeks to broaden the areas and formats of Russian-African cooperation and efforts to define strategies for long-term development.
A Healthy Life Area forum has been planned to discuss healthcare issues and aimed at strengthening the partnership between Russia and Africa in healthcare and drug policy development as well as an outlook for sharing modern medical technologies and equipment.
Participants will also discuss the development and launch of innovative drugs and medical products, accessibility of medical education, and improvement of mechanisms ensuring uninterrupted access for Russians and Africans to important drugs and medical products and the introduction of advanced digital solutions.
Russia said Tuesday that 49 of 54 African countries have confirmed attendance.
Statehouse has announced that President William Ruto will not be attending the conference and will instead be represented by “organs of the Africa Union”.
The decision to skip the conference bringing together heads of state from the continent, Statehouse Spokesman Hussein Mohamed revealed, is in line with an agreement reached by the continental heads.
“The decision aligns with the stance of African Heads of State and Government, who believe that in order for Africa to engage in meaningful discussions with global partners, partnership summits organized by external parties need to be reviewed to establish an effective framework for African Union partnerships,” reads the statement.
There will be numerous bilateral meetings to be discussed. Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to meet with every leader of African states.
Ruto has been on record criticizing such types of arrangements where African presidents travel the World to meet with the leader of one country saying it was unfair.