South Korea offers Nigeria strategic partnership towards 4th industrial revolution

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Government of South Korea has invited Nigeria to join her in strategic partnership, as the world advances towards the 4th industrial revolution.
Special Envoy to President of Korea Republic, Jang Sungmin, revealed this yesterday while fielding questions from journalists after an interface with Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, in the Aso Rock presidential Villa, Abuja.
He was accompanied by other dignitaries, including: Kim Young-chae; Ambassador of Republic of Korea to Nigeria, YOO Chang-ho; Deputy Secretary to the President for Future Policy; Guillaume Barthe-Dejean; Vice President, SK.
Others are: KIM Inkyu; Chief Financial Officer, LG Electronics Nigeria Corp.; Choi Jungwon; Economic Attaché, Korean Embassy in Nigeria, Ms. Park Hyesong; Korea International Development Agency.
Giving more insight on the purpose of the diplomatic and business visit to Nigeria’s seat of power, Jang Sungmin said South Korea is willing to journey with Nigeria towards job creation and technological transfer, as already buttressed by President Yoon Suk Yeol.
While indication that Korea Republic has special interest in Nigeria, Jang Sungmin recalled President Yoon sent Special Delegation to Nigeria’s presidential inauguration, and followed it up weeks later, adding that Yoon Suk Yeol is desirous of having a mutually acceptable economic partnership with Nigeria.
“We look forward to cooperating with the new cabinet. The Korean government’s new foreign policy is to cooperate with countries that share our common values of relative peace and prosperity. We believe that Nigeria and the new government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima is a country and a government we can share these common values with, and as a result, have much more enhanced economic values.
“Korea is a country that use to receive international assistance from global community, and that is how we have become one of the 10th largest economies in the world, and now the Republic of Korea is in a position to give back to the international community. So, what we have received in the past, we look forward to accomplishing in Nigeria”, the Special Envoy said.
According to him, Korea republic respects Nigeria, hence the efforts to expand economic cooperation with the most populous black nation, just as he noted that the country remains the gateway to Africa, especially looking at her rich reserve of natural resources and human capital.
The areas the partnership will focus, according to him, are human capital development, energy generation, including rechargeable vehicle batteries, oil and gas refining and manufacturing. He said given the huge deposit natural resources and manpower in Nigeria; the partnership will be a win-win.
He opined that South Korea has both technology and skilled knowledge, just as Nigeria has both human capital and huge natural reserve, which he said makes imperative the deal which the new governments in both countries are working to strike.
In his brief remark, the representative of SK Energy company, which is the second biggest economy in Korea, said SK is the Korean second largest conglomerate, which has about one hundred and fifty billion dollars revenue and one hundred and ten thousand employees worldwide.
Adding that of all Korean conglomerates, SK is most diversified, he said they have operations in oil and gas, renewable energy, rechargeable vehicle batteries, world third largest chips and semiconductors manufactures biopharmaceuticals and other areas, with operations in United States, Europe and hopefully Africa.
He expressed hope that Nigeria will make the most of the 4th global revolution, in addition to benefitting from the massive job opportunity for the youths which comes alongside with the massive capital investment being envisaged.