Kenyan Ambassador to Korea Emmy Jerono Kipsoi in an interview on June 27 at her embassy in Seoul calls the Korea-Africa Summit "successful" for both her country and the African continent.

By Yoon Sojung
Photos = Jeon Han

Video = Lee Jun Young and Park Daejin

"We saw Korea's commitment to upgrade its cooperation with Africa to the next level."

This is what Kenyan Ambassador to Korea Emmy Jerono Kipsoi said about the inaugural Korea-Africa Summit in Seoul held from June 4-5. 

She called the gathering "successful" for both the African continent and Kenya. On major results of the summit, she mentioned Kenya's entry into the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), a Seoul-based United Nations body, as a member state. 

During the summit, Kenya signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with IVI on cooperation in vaccine research and the advancement of health and medicine in Africa. Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Kenya-AIST), which was modeled after the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), also signed an MOU with KAIST on cooperation and joint research.

Scheduled to open next year, Kenya-AIST is an institution of higher learning being built by the Kenyan government at Konza Technopolis, known as the "Silicon Valley of Africa.' Seoul and Nairobi are jointly promoting this project to build a smart city using cutting-edge digital technology.

Since taking office in late April, Ambassador Kipsoi said she sees similarities between the traditional music of both countries. She added that she wants to improve cultural understanding, expand trade volume and promote balance in commerce between the two sides.

The following are excerpts from her June 27 interview with Korea.net at her embassy in Seoul's Yongsan-gu District.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of ties between Korea and Kenya. What do you consider the biggest result of bilateral cooperation?

The first outcome of bilateral ties was the opening of our embassy in Seoul. Forging diplomatic relations in 1964, Kenya opened its embassy in Seoul in 2007. Since 1964, the two countries have developed bilateral ties and have about 14 MOUs, most of them signed during the November 2022 visit by Kenyan President William Ruto, his first official trip to Korea since his election. He also came here in June this year for the Korea-Africa Summit, his first as head of state, showing how deep our relations are.

How are both countries so close despite the vast distance between them?

I believe that both countries share a similar identity in gaining independence from colonial rule. They've also formed diplomatic relations, worked together for mutual benefits and showed consistency on the diplomatic stage.

What does Kenya consider the biggest outcome of the Korea-Africa Summit?

The historic Korea-Africa Summit was the first multilateral gathering between Korea and Africa. Korea has had diplomatic ties with African nations for about 60 years. The summit came after countries decided that the time was ripe to upgrade cooperation to the next level. At the summit, we discussed joint responses to global issues such as climate change and sustainable development.

 
From Africa's perspective, the summit showed the potential for deepening cooperation between Korea and Africa. All sides gathered at the table to discuss what we can do together and how, and this was highly symbolic.

From the national perspective of Kenya, we believe that the summit was successful. President (William) Ruto visited Korea again for summit talks with President Yoon Suk Yeol on progress and follow-up measures to their previous meeting in November 2022. In trade, we discussed correcting the bilateral trade imbalance and how Korea benefits by raising imports from Kenya.

I also want to highlight Kenya's entry into the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), a Korea-based United Nations body, as a member state and the raising of our flag at a sideline event of the Korea-Africa Summit. 

We signed an MOU with IVI for cooperation in vaccine development and advancement of health and medicine in Africa. Kenya-AIST, an advanced institute for science and technology modeled after Korea's KAIST, also signed an MOU with KAIST on cooperation and joint research.

What projects are both countries pursuing, especially in Kenya?

The Konza Technopolis Project is one of the leading projects and where Kenya-AIST will be located. The aim is to transform the complex into a large smart city based on state-of-the-art digital technology.

KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency) is also pursuing projects. Since opening its Nairobi office in 2008, KOTRA has helped and supported Korean companies to enter and operate in Kenya.

How does Nairobi see Seoul's efforts to secure peace on the Korean Peninsula?

I feel very safe in Korea and that the Korean government is managing everything well. The Kenyan government wishes for both Koreas to ease tension on the peninsula and resolve national security threats through peaceful resolutions. 

Ambassador Kipsoi has proposed boosting bilateral cultural exchange by raising the number of Kenyan universities that teach the Korean language and hosting a concert of traditional orchestral music from both countries.

What about Kenyan culture or tourism do you recommend to Korea.net readers?

Kenya is a beautiful country with a rich culture. Kenyans speak two or three languages including English and Swahili and have about 17 dialects. In language, geography and culture, Kenya has a rich cultural heritage and beautiful music.

In Kenya, you can see wild animals like families of elephants, giraffes or lions roaming around their natural habitats. Wildlife and nature at national parks like Masai Mara or Nairobi are our pride. Unlike Korea that has four seasons, we have dry and wet seasons. Come to Kenya any time to enjoy beautiful nature, wildlife and wonderful beaches.

You assumed your post in April this year. What are your goals while working here?

I wish to enhance bilateral trade volume and improve the trade balance. I look forward to more Koreans visiting Kenya and seeing more cultural exchange, especially between the universities and people of both countries. Two universities near Nairobi teach the Korean language, and I hope that number can grow to other parts of Kenya so that more Kenyan youth have the opportunity to work in Korea.

I recently saw a traditional music concert in Korea and found an amazing similarity between the musical instruments of both countries, like the gayageum (12-string zither) and its Kenyan counterpart. Hosting a concert of the traditional orchestral music of both countries is a good idea for cultural exchange. Likewise, I wish to widen cultural understanding of Koreans and Kenyans by discovering similarities between us.

arete@korea.kr