As a gate to Africa, Kenya is propelling its government’s Big 4 Action Plan, according to Kenya envoy Mohamed Abdi Gello who spoke about those four Big Action Plans in front of about 300 invited guests including the Seoul Diplomatic Corps. by a diplomatic reception held in a downtown hotel Seoul on Dec. 11th. Evening.

“I am dedicating the energy, time and resources of my Administration to the Big Four. The Big Four will create jobs, which will enable our people to meet their basic needs.”, said Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta according to the Kenya Embassy Seoul also.

These Big 4 Action Plans include enhancing manufacturing to increase from 9.2% to 20% of GDP until 2022, food security and nutrition, universal health coverage, and last but not least affordable housing including 500,000 new affordable homes.

In consideration of such Kenya government’s Big 4 Action Plan, Kenya envoy Gello pointed out: “There will be considerable business opportunities for mutual win-win between Korea & Kenya in the fields of agriculture, energy, infra, education, ICT, housing, healdth, to name just a few”.

According to Gello, Kenya also hosted the High Level Blue Economy Conference on Nov. 26 to Nov. 28, 2018 in Nairobi alongside Canada and Japan. The conference brought on board 16,320 representatives from over 100 countries including Heads of States, high level government representatives, international and non-governmental organizations, private sector, academia and civil society with the aim of advancing global conversation on the sustainable harnessing of shared marine resources.

The conference was the first of its caliber and magnitude to be held in the global south in the back drop of diminishing resources vis à vis a rapidly growing global population currently estimated at 7.6 billion.

Moreover, the conference advocated for the engagement of relevant stakeholders in the full implementation of the provision of Agenda 14 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other existing collaborative instruments to govern marine resources such as the Commonwealth Blue Charter.

The conference provided an important platform for strategic deliberations on the continued survival of humanity, biodiversity and ecosystems based on integrated, balanced and holistic approaches in recognition of the urgent need for an economically vibrant, socially inclusive and environmentally conscious blue economy.

In particular Kenya envoy Gello said: “Korea’s support and participation through the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is greatly appreciated. The participation of representatives from the academia as well as Korea’s well established shipping sector served to enrich the content of the conference through knowledge sharing on the successful integration of the blue economy as a critical pillar for phenomenal economic growth.”

From the perspective of Korea, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon visited Kenya on July, this year with a total of 70 business CEO figures, confirming that the Kenya leadership is devoting their full endeavours on improving the life quality of the Kenyan peoples through its government Big 4 Action Plans implementation etc.

On behalf of the government, Foreign Policy advisor Choo Jong-youn to Prime Minister who accompanied Prime Minister Lee’s Kenya business trip who was on hand, said: “For Korean start-ups, Kenya can serve as a good starting point for their business because Kenya is called as a silicon valley of Africa. In addition, Deputy Speaker Lee Ju-young who lead the New Era Africa From of the National Assembly who was on hand also, said: “If Kenya’s potential & Korea’s IT industry are merged, new business opportunities including infra would be created”.

Touching upon the fact that Kenya has been devoted to constructing regional peace in African continent during several decades, Gello added that Kenya government fully supports Korean government’s peace initiative among others. For reference of our readers, The NDNnews inserts a contribution article by H.E. Mohamed Abdi Gello which was inserted into the Sep. issue of the Seoulcity magazine regarding recent denuclearization process on the peninsula as follows:

KOREAN PENINSULA, ROAD TO PEACE

The unfolding situation on the Korean Peninsula following the high-ranking meeting of officials from North and South Korea on Monday, 13th August 2018 has given me a lot of hope on the outcome of the scheduled September 2018 summit of the leaders of North and South Korea. The level of optimism has been further elevated following the recent speech delivered by President Moon Jae-in during the 73rd Korean National Liberation Day celebrations in which he indicated that Korea will take another step towards declaration of the end of the Korean War, peace and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

With such determination for dialogue and unwavering zest for Peace, indeed, the Koreas may not be far from achieving the goal.

I wish the two Korean leaders, good health and forthright wisdom as they strive to restore peace and tranquility in the Korean Peninsula.