South Korea to fund smart farms, renewable energy at Konza city

The Konza smart city project has received a financial boost from the South Korean government for renewable energy and the construction of smart farms and an incubation hub.

Kenyan and South Korean officials made the announcement on Tuesday during the launch of the third phase, or third-year projects, of the Kenya Economic Innovation Partnership Program (EIPP).

The project is by the Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA), the Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), and the Korea Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Speaking while presiding over the launch at a Nairobi hotel, ICT and Digital Economy Principal Secretary John Tanui noted that the programme envisioned in 2021 is a new and extended cooperation model of its predecessor, the Knowledge Sharing Program that started in 2015.

"The 3rd year of the EIPP is expected to provide support for the establishment of stable infrastructure, an incubation complex, a smart farm, diversification of energy sources, green transition and enhancement of energy independence for Konza, including integrated information and transportation network," Tanui said.

He highlighted milestones including the establishment of industrial clusters, smart city development, the Konza Digital Media City, and the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), which he said "position Kenya on the path of the knowledge economy".

The KAIST is modelled after the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, which is responsible for the economic transformation of Korea.

Tanui affirmed commitment to Kenya's digital transformation agenda, for transition into a digital economy, with flagship projects such as the development of the 100,000 km fiber optic infrastructure, the setting up of 1,450 innovation hubs and the provision of 2,5000 WiFi hotspots across the country.

"These initiatives are empowering our youth and enhancing accessibility to services through automation and digitisation of government services," the PS said, adding that Kenya's longstanding partnership with Korea has been instrumental in sectors including ICT, infrastructure development, healthcare, water and education.

Kenya -Korea Konza Economic Innovation Partnershio Program Launch.,2023-2024. pic.twitter.com/ktjWvMtU7k

— Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui, MBS (@tanuijohn) March 5, 2024

Korea Ambassador to Kenya Nam Sang Kyoo noted that their support for the Konza Technopolis Special Economic Zone (SEZ) will help Kenya "leap forward in terms of smart technology".

Phase one of the project saw the development of smart city strategies and the Konza Integrated Control Center and Smart Mobility Plan.

Phase two, implemented in 2022/23, saw the implementation of studies for intelligent transport systems, the establishment of a startup ecosystem, and the development of smart logistics and the Konza-Nairobi Corridor Transport Network.

Konza Board Chair Raphael Munavu, ICT and Digital Economy Principal Secretary John Tanui, and Konza Technopolis Development Authority CEO John Paul Okwiri are pictured during the launch of third-year projects of the Kenya Economic Innovation Partnership Program (EIPP) in Nairobi on March 6, 2024. (Photo: X/ KoTDA)

The EIPP is an extended cooperation grant model from the Korean government meant to foster mutually beneficial relationships between Korea and its partner countries.

It maximises business effectiveness by promoting policy advice for system improvement and the implementation of identified projects.

The programme supports two to three projects annually for a maximum of three years, focusing on establishing mid and long-term development strategies, improving laws and systems, planning infrastructure, and financing plans.

The Kenya-Korea EIPP will be implemented by KOTRA and KoTDA on behalf of the Korean and Kenyan governments, respectively.

Park Chul Ho, director-general of the KOTRA Development Cooperation Office, said, "The successful implementation of the first and second programmes has given us the impetus to undertake this third phase to ensure we conclusively deliver on our commitment."