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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima has restated Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening relations with Republic of Korea, especially in promoting trade, technology transfer and maintaining global peace.
He stated this when he received a delegation from the Republic of Korea, led by the Special Envoy to the President, Jang Sungmin, at the Presidential Villa, yesterday.
In a statement by Director Information, Office of the Vice President, Olusola Abiola, Shettima said: “Nigeria and Korea have a very robust bilateral relationship that is anchored on years of mutual trust and cooperation. A lot of Korean companies are doing business in Nigeria, especially in the area of oil and gas. Six of our LNG trains were constructed by Korean companies.
“We are fully committed to a very robust relationship between our nations. We need to learn a lot from Korea, especially in the areas of manufacturing and agriculture. You are a success story worthy of emulation by all developing nations.
“Many years ago in the 50s and 60s, the Korean GDP was at par with many African countries but today, Korea is among the developed nations. This is partly due to the leadership and commitment of the Korean people.
“We are willing to partner you in the area of technology because by 2030, there will be 65 per cent global talent deficit with the US, Russia and Brazil suffering six million talent deficit. I believe Nigeria is in a unique position to fill in those talent deficits because ours is a young nation.”
He added that “75 per cent of Nigerians are below the age of 35, so we are soliciting your partnership and support in digital skills training for our young people. We want to create one million jobs in the digital world.
“India earned $120 billion last year from global outsourcing and we are in a unique position to take advantage of the opportunities in the sector. We need the skills set, we need the technology to drive the process and yours is a technology that we can embrace.”
The vice president assured the Korean Government of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to partner with Korea to strengthen relations with both countries, especially balancing the trade deficit between the two countries.
On the agenda of the new administration, the vice president said: “Security and economic development is the focus of our government. The government will make it easier for Korean businesses and other foreign investors to do business in Nigeria. Korea has always supported us in the international fora and we have that obligation to reciprocate by supporting Korean businesses operating in Nigeria.”
He assured the Korean delegation that President Bola Tinubu will honour the invitation of his Korean counterpart to the Africa-Korea summit in 2024.
Earlier in his remarks, Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Korea, Sungmin, congratulated Nigeria for the successful inauguration of the new administration, even as he conveyed special invitation from President Yoon Suk Yoel to his Nigerian counterpart, Tinubu, to attend the forthcoming Africa-Korea Summit in South Korea.
He also restated his country’s continuous support for Nigeria across different sectors, noting that Korea’s “collaboration with Nigeria can lead the 4th Industrial Revolution,” maintaining that the country’s “development is akin to Nigeria’s development.”
The delegation of the Special Envoy included, KIM Young-chae, ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Federal Republic of Nigeria; YOO Chang-ho, deputy secretary to the President for Future Policy; JANG Sangwoo, deputy director for Planning and Execution Team, Bid Committee for World EXPO 2030 BUSAN; Guillaume Barthe-Dejean, vice kresident, SK; KIM Inkyu, chief financial officer, LG Electronics Nigeria Corp; and Park Hyesong, Korea International Development Agency.
