Kenya and South Korea to Form Joint Economic Committee to Enhance Trade

By Samuel Ouma

The Kenyan Government and its South Korean counterpart have agreed to form a joint economic committee to improve trade between the two countries.

The agreement was arrived at following a phone conversation between Kenyan President William Ruto and his South Korean counterpart, Yoon Suk Yeol.

The committee is expected to fast-track the areas of cooperation agreed on during President Ruto’s visit to South Korea last year.

They include the Konza Digital City, the Nairobi Intelligent Transport Project and a capacity-building programme in vaccine production in Nairobi.

“Kenya and South Korea are strong democracies that hold regular and competitive elections. Consequently, the two countries will co-host the Third Summit of Democracy for the Future in Nairobi in March 2024,” read a statement from State House, Nairobi, in part.

The two leaders discussed the next Korea-Africa Summit, which will be held in June 2024. President Ruto reaffirmed Kenya's participation.

In response to South Korea's bid to host the 2030 Expo, a worldwide fair with the theme "Transforming Our World, Navigating Towards A Better Future," Kenya pledged to collaborate with South Korea and others to ensure the event's success.