President William Ruto expressed optimism that Africa will greatly benefit from the partnership to produce Samsung phones locally. He highlighted the potential advantages for Korea, encouraging the nation to leverage the abundant raw materials and skilled human capital available in African countries, including Kenya.
“It would be a win-win outcome if Samsung can produce their telephones in Kenya using geothermal energy from our resources with Kenyan young people working in those industries while using raw materials of minerals and exporting it globally,” the President said.
President William Ruto, attending the inaugural Korea Africa Summit in Seoul, emphasized the mutual benefits of the collaboration to produce Samsung phones locally. He noted that this partnership would benefit both Africa and Samsung, as well as contribute positively to climate goals through the use of green energy.
Ruto highlighted that such collaborations would enable Korea to produce sustainable green products by combining African resources with Korean technology.
“There is a need to be a convergence between the renewable energy potential we have in our continent, the enormous raw materials and resources we have in Africa and the huge human capital to be able to converge with the technology and capital available in countries like Korea,” he said.
During the summit, President Ruto advocated for African countries, emphasizing the pivotal role Korea can play in the continent’s transformation. He highlighted Africa’s eagerness to forge strong partnerships with Korean investors, which he believes will help convert Africa’s vast potential into tangible opportunities and investments.
This, in turn, would create jobs and stimulate economic growth across the continent.
“This summit demonstrates a resolve to elevate this relationship and mobilise the political will needed for Africa and Korea to prosper together through mutually beneficial collaborations,” President Ruto said.
“To do this, we must leverage on our complementarities and implement win-win strategies on the basis of equal partnership,” Ruto said.
President Ruto highlighted Africa’s untapped potential, which includes a dynamic and skilled youthful population, vast arable land, abundant renewable energy resources, and valuable mineral wealth. He pointed out that these assets remain largely unexploited, suggesting significant opportunities for investment and development.
