Kenya and South Korea marked a major milestone in their bilateral relations, celebrating 60 years of diplomatic ties that have fostered strong cooperation across various sectors.
The anniversary was celebrated on October 1 and 2 at JW Marriott in Nairobi, with over 300 delegates from Kenya, Korea, and various sectors, reflecting on achievements and future cooperation.
Hosted by the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Kenya, His Excellency Sung-jun Yeo, the event attracted key figures from the Kenyan government, including officials from Ministries of Energy, Water, Agriculture.
Principal Secretary Investments Promotion Hassan Abubakar and his counterpart from the State Department of ICT and the Digital Economy, Eng. John Tanui was also present.
“It is truly a meaningful way to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Kenya and I believe it’s a new chapter to our partnership in driving Korea-Kenya shared efforts,”the Ambassador said.
The celebration highlighted the growing role of South Korean companies in Kenya’s economic landscape.
“During the past six decades, Korea and Kenya have advanced together in a variety of fields; the political, economic, social, and cultural areas,” the Ambassador said.
Kenya had reaped big from the bilateral relations, and more so in the areas of ICT, Science and Infrastructure development.
The partnership Kenya-South Korea which began in 1964, has seen Kenya benefit from South Korea’s expertise in technology, infrastructure, and education, while South Korea has found Kenya to be a strategic partner in East Africa, especially in trade and investment.
One of the most notable collaborations is the establishment of the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KENYA-AIST), modeled after Korea’s own KAIST, institution that played a pivotal role in South Korea’s economic rise.
KENYA-AIST is set to be unveiled later this year and is expected to become a hub for research and innovation, serving as a catalyst for Kenya’s transition to a knowledge-based economy.
“It will be integral to nurturing the next generation of Kenyan innovators and scientists , fostering an environment of knowledge transfer between our two nations,” PS Tanui said.
In addition to educational collaboration, several large-scale projects including the development of the Bus Rapid Transit, the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) for the capital, the dualing of the 78km Machakos Junction-Emali Road, water supply and sanitation projects for Konza Technopolis, and the Vaccine Production Project are ongoing between the two countries.
PS Tanui said the Konza Technopolis will drive job creation and position Kenya as a leader in the digital content industry across Africa, “contributing significantly to the creative economy.”
These projects demonstrate the breadth of South Korea’s commitment to supporting Kenya’s sustainable development goals.
PS Abubakar hailed the relationship between Kenya and Korea, saying it has been strong and fruitful, with trade being one of the key pillars of our bilateral relationship.
According to the Kenya Economic Survey 2023, the value of imports from South Korea rose sharply from Sh22.3 billion in 2021 to Sh50.2 billion in 2022, driven largely by increased imports of kerosene-type jet fuel and other critical industrial goods.
Kenya’s exports to South Korea also saw an uptick, growing from Sh3.9 billion to Sh6.1 billion over the same period, with key exports including coffee, titanium ore, and scrap copper.
Kenya is already home to major South Korean companies such as Samsung Electronics, Hyundai, Daewoo, and Korea Telecom.
The event further discussions aimed at increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) from South Korea, with Kenya positioning itself as an attractive investment destination due to its strategic location, skilled workforce, and stable business environment.
The celebration event in Nairobi included business-to-business (B2B) meetings and panels that showcased the products and services of leading Korean companies to Kenyan buyers, providing a platform for increased trade and collaboration.
