Korean ambassador in Nigeria

By Yuccee O. Uwah (The Korea Post Nigeria Bureau chief)


The Republic of Korea has called for the deepening of economic ties between Nigeria and Korea. Ambassador Kim Young-Chae of Korea in Nigeria made the statement during his official visit to the Office of the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. Ambassador Kim said that the purpose of his visit to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu was to update him on the efforts of South Korea to improve the economic relations and cooperation between the two countries.

Ambassador Kim who paid Kalu the visit shortly after the Presentation of the 2022 budget by President Buhari revealed further that Korea recently signed an agreement with the Ministry of Digital Economy and the Ministry of Education and Universal Basic Education (UBEC) to commit US$10 million for the construction of smart schools in the geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

Senate Chief Whip Dr. Orji Kalu is flanked on the left by Senator Lawall Anka and Ambassador Kim Young-chae of Korea in Nigeria on the right.
Senate Chief Whip Dr. Orji Kalu is flanked on the left by Senator Lawall Anka and Ambassador Kim Young-chae of Korea in Nigeria on the right.

In the areas of economic ties, Ambassador Kim stressed that Korea is committed to strengthening and improving trade and investment relations between the two countries. He listed agriculture, trade and investment as areas of concern to the Korean Government.

Kim said: “Our mission is to visit you and highlight our country’s commitment to improving our trade and investment relations between the two countries. We are here to discuss how we can further enhance our investment and our trade and that is why I came here with my economic officer. So, today’s discussion majors only economy, trade, investment, agriculture and so on.”

Then he said: “We had a signing ceremony with the ministry of digital economy and the signing ceremony was for e-government projects and later this month we had another signing ceremony of the ministry of education and Universal Basic Education (UBEC) to commit around 10 million dollars for smart school projects in six states in each geopolitical zone.”
Ambassador Kim then revealed that the Korean Government through its Embassy recently signed an MOU with the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines (NACCIMA) to establish important communication channels.

Ambassador Kim noted, “We also checked that there is other bilateral chamber of commerce under NACCIMA and the counties include; South Africa, United Kingdom and so on. So our aim is to build on the existing relationships.”

Earlier in his remarks, Senator Orji Kalu expressed that cooperation between the two countries has attained another level. Kalu said that both President Buhari and President Moon Jae-in of Korea have also intensified talks to ensure that they achieve the economic growth of both countries.

Kim then said: “I am pleased with your visit to the National Assembly today, the two countries are making progress and we will also further with regards business to business.” It’s very important because the Korean investment is growing and Nigerian exports to Korea are also increasing and we need to do more to meet up with the demands of the two countries.”

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