South Korea says it is seeking collaboration with the Nigerian Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu on various areas to enhance and lead the fourth industrial revolution.
Mr Jang Sungmin, the Special Envoy of the South Korean President, Mr Yoon Suk Yeol, disclosed this at a media parley on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said: “Yoon Suk Yoel has sent me as an Envoy to this great nation, because it is the leader of Africa, has the biggest market, largest population, natural resources and biggest arable land.
“Nigeria has all the criteria for economic power in Africa; and Korea is a country that has all the technologies and development know-how and economic prosperity to lead the fourth Industrial Revolution.
“Korea is already leading that industrial revolution. So, President Yeol feels that by combining forces, Korea and Nigeria cooperation will not only lead to prosperity and faster economic development for Nigeria, but also prosperity for Africa.
“The composition of my delegation shows you that President Yeol is committed and willing to find better ways to cooperate with Nigeria.
“Specifically, we look towards a younger generation work force and natural resources that Nigeria has, especially to enhance and lead the World’s fourth Industrial Revolution.”
The envoy reiterated that South Korea has the technologies, knowledge, skills and human resources for technological transfer, especially in the areas of agriculture, cyber space, security, biotechnology, oil refinery, adding, “Korea looks forward to a future with Nigeria.”
Sungmin explained that President Yoel’s comprehensive diplomacy and foreign policy is about global capital, which rests on three pillars.
“It is to enhance cooperation especially with countries who share our common values of Liberty, Peace and Prosperity. Those were the three pillars that underlined the foundation of our foreign policy.
“We would like to share and extend our cooperation, especially with countries who share these common values.
“We believe that Nigeria, especially the new government of Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, is a government we can share these common values with to enhance new economic cooperation.
“Korea used to receive aid from other countries. That is how we became the 10th largest economy in the world.
“Now we are using that position to give back to the international community. So, we look forward to a cooperation with Nigeria in this sense,” he said.
President Yeol feels that by combining forces, Korea and Nigeria cooperation will not only lead to prosperity and faster economic development for Nigeria, but also prosperity for Africa.
Public, private partnership
Contributing, the Vice President, SK company in South Korea, Mr Guillaume Barthe-Dejean, said the post-Korean war was characterised by fast development, which is a product of collaboration between public and private sectors.
He said the private sector in Korea like SK, Samsung and others have supported the Korean Government to develop economic policies, a model that allows the country to become a powerhouse.
“Today, Korea is the 10th world largest economy, the fourth world largest exporter, and the country which is leading the 4th Industrial Revolution.
“SK is happy to be in Nigeria. Bonny Light Crude irrigates the world economy and Nigeria has resources and fuel that could power the 4th Industrial Revolution.
“In the last five years, the world experienced a decline in the supply chain globally, and I think for this reason Korean companies would be interested in partnering with countries in Africa to stabilise the supply chain,” Barthe-Dejean said.
Those in the delegation include Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nigeria, Mr KIM Young-chae; Deputy Secretary President Yeol for Future Policy, Mr YOO Chang-ho and Barthe-Dejean
Others were Chief Financial Officer, LG Electronics Nigeria Corporation, Mr KIM Inkyu; Economic Attaché, Korean Embassy in Nigeria, Mr Choi Jungwon; and Ms Park Hyesong of Korea International Development Agency.
