Nairobi, Kenya 15th October 2024 – Konza Technopolis has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Korea Electronic Association (KEA) for the establishment of a $1, 400,000 (Kshs180 million at current exchange rate) electronic and information technology manufacturing support center in Konza.
“This MOU heralds a new dawn for Konza Technopolis as we enter the next phase of development whereby Korean electronic companies, through their association will establish a manufacturing support center enabling the various Korean companies to produce their products locally,” John Paul Okwiri said during the signing ceremony.
The Korea Electronic Association, established in 1976 brings together over 370 Korea’s major electronics and information technology companies such as Samsung Electronics LG Electronics, research institutions and academia.
“We intend to establish an electronic manufacturing support center in Konza Technopolis, capable of production of electronic products, development of appropriate and skilled workforce and provision of technical support, prototype development production assistance to research institutions, startups, SMEs and Korean companies entering the African market,’ Chungwon Park PhD, Chief Executive Officer and President of KEA said during the signing ceremony.
The KoTDA Electronics Manufacturing Support Center, to be built at a cost of Kshs180 million will be developed in 4 phases which will include the business planning phase, the provision of training in electronics manufacturing and product development phase, the setting up of manufacturing equipment and operational systems phase and expanding the operations and enterprise support systems phase.
Under the business planning phase, which will take 2 years, it will focus on market research and demand analysis which will involve studying the local and regional electronics manufacturing potential, analyzing Infrastructure in Konza and exploring cooperation with Korean companies. This phase will also involve stakeholder consultations and cooperation and oversees cooperation project planning.
Phase two of graining and skill development will cover the development of training programs, educational materials and manuals and field program utilizing experts which will involve provision of on-site training and establishment of online education platform.
Phase three will involve equipment setting which will include equipment selection and purchase, equipment installation and testing.
The last phase, will cover recruitment and training of local workforce, mass production and expansion.“We expect this project to take between 2 to 3 years to be completed, with Korean companies starting their operations locally,” Okwiri said. The expected outcome will include the set-up of 10 or more prototype equipment, setting up of electronics manufacturing support platform, technological support services which will include manufacturing support for 100 cases per year, design-manufacturing support for 30 cases per year and electronic board production of 20,000 cases per year, he added.
In addition, the center will support product launch targeting 30 products per year with a reduced average production period of 6 months, while targeting to train 100 people and support over 100 businesses.
The Korean companies targeting to set up include xVic which produces portable golf aiming guide, Beaunex, producers of facial mask, Atech Net, makers of holographic imaging devices, Dooni Corp makers of sound effectors, Illumino makers of UV LED portable counterfeit detectors, Rollingseeds, makers of simpe UX game consoles, Share & Share producers of smart doorlocks, Goonies manufacturing smart edutainment devices and Sonic Dutch Korea manufacturers of coffee extractors.
Other companies include; Maete makers of AI functional memory foam pillows, Gateways who produce indoor fitness gaming devices, Boomengine makers of smart flower pots, AWESOMEAB makers of Eco-friendly portable water warmers, Worldhumantec, producers of personal portable self-defence devices, Gkkelab manufacturing self-temperature controlling heat gloves, Honey IT manufacturing ELF sleep care devices and BOREA making detachable air sterilizer for vehicles.
“Our key focus is to build business-friendly cooperation, assist local innovators and entrepreneurs accelerate adoption of AI in their production processes, secure for them the global supply chain and create a healthy ecosystem for ICT industries,” Park said.
Konza Technopolis is a key flagship project of Kenya’s Vision 2030 economic development blue print that aims to transform Kenya into a middle-income country with higher standards of living for Kenyans. It’s tasked with developing a thriving sustainable smart city and a vibrant innovation ecosystem contributing to Kenya’s knowledge economy and contributing to the transformation of the Kenyan economy into a digitally driven economy.
“Konza Technopolis has a light manufacturing band which targets to host light manufacturing businesses such as electronic and IT manufacturing and today we are happy to invite Korean electronic and IT companies, which are world class and cutting-edge technology and products to set up their operations here,” Okwiri said.
Konza Technopolis has been a major beneficiary of Korean funded projects which include the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Ke-AIST) modelled after the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and set to open early next year for post graduate studies in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Similarly, the Konza Media City project received Kshs38 billion during the recently held Korea-Africa Summit in June.
In addition, under the Economic Innovation Partnership Program (EIPP) organized by the Korea Development Cooperation Office (KOTRA), Konza Technopolis identified 10 projects to be funded at a cost of $1 billion. These projects include the Konza-Nairobi Corridor Transport Network, the proposed dualling of the Machakos turn off to Emali, establishment of Konza Technopolis Smart City Masterplan, establishment of an Integrated Control Center and establishment of Transportation Network & Smart Mobility Basic Plan.
Others are preliminary feasibility study for an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) and Integrated Control Centre, consultation for establishment of a Startup Ecosystem, consultation for the establishment of Smart Logistics, establishment of a smart farm, establishment of an Incubation Complex and Renewable Energy Strategy for Konza Technopolis.