Konza Technopolis has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Korea Electronic Association (KEA) to establish a $1.4 million (Ksh180 million) electronic and information technology manufacturing support center at Konza. This development marks a significant milestone for Konza as it enters a new phase in its growth.
The agreement will enable Korean electronic companies, through KEA, to produce their products locally in Kenya. John Paul Okwiri, during the signing ceremony, highlighted the importance of this partnership: “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.”
KEA, established in 1976, represents over 370 major Korean electronics and IT companies such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, along with research institutions and academia. Chungwon Park PhD, CEO and President of KEA, elaborated on the objectives of the collaboration: “We intend to establish an electronic manufacturing support center in Konza Technopolis, capable of production of electronic products, development of a skilled workforce, and provision of technical support to research institutions, startups, SMEs, and Korean companies entering the African market.”
The KoTDA Electronics Manufacturing Support Center will be built in four phases over the next 2 to 3 years, with the project aiming to provide significant support to Kenya’s electronic manufacturing industry. These phases include:
- Business Planning Phase – Focused on market research, demand analysis, and exploring cooperation with Korean companies.
- Training and Skill Development Phase – Development of educational programs, training manuals, and the establishment of an online education platform.
- Equipment Setup Phase – Selection, purchase, and installation of manufacturing equipment.
- Recruitment and Expansion Phase – Recruitment of a local workforce, mass production, and expansion of operations.
Okwiri stated that the center is expected to help create 10 or more prototype equipment, support 100 manufacturing cases per year, and train over 100 people while assisting more than 100 businesses. The center will also reduce product launch times, targeting 30 products annually with a production period of six months.
The Korean companies expected to establish operations in Konza include xVic (portable golf aiming guides), Beaunex (facial masks), Atech Net (holographic imaging devices), Dooni Corp (sound effectors), Illumino (UV LED counterfeit detectors), and many others.
Konza Technopolis, a flagship project under Kenya’s Vision 2030, aims to transform the country into a middle-income economy with a focus on innovation and sustainable development. Okwiri emphasized the project’s mission: “Konza Technopolis has a light manufacturing band which targets to host businesses such as electronic and IT manufacturing, and today we are happy to invite Korean companies with world-class technology to set up their operations here.”
This collaboration follows other major Korean-funded projects at Konza, including the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Ke-AIST) and the Konza Media City project, which received Ksh38 billion during the Korea-Africa Summit.
Additionally, under the Economic Innovation Partnership Program (EIPP), Konza has identified 10 projects to be funded at a cost of $1 billion. These projects include the Konza-Nairobi Corridor Transport Network, the Machakos turn off to Emali dualling project, and the establishment of a Startup Ecosystem.
