The Korea Electronics Association (KEA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kenya to create a $1.4 million tech manufacturing support center at Konza Technopolis. This strategic partnership is set to strengthen Kenya’s role in electronics manufacturing and promote the growth of local tech industries.
Established in 1976, KEA represents more than 370 major Korean electronics and IT companies, including global giants like LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics, as well as various research institutions and academic bodies.
The manufacturing center will be developed in four key phases. The initial phase involves business planning, followed by training in electronics manufacturing and product development.
The next phase will see the installation of manufacturing equipment and operational systems, culminating in expanded operations that include enterprise support systems.
The facility is expected to launch 30 products annually, with an average production time of six months. Additionally, it aims to train 100 individuals and support over 100 businesses.
Several Korean companies are poised to establish operations at the Konza-based center, including, xVic which specializes in portable golf aiming guides, Beaunex which produces of facial masks, Atech Net developers of holographic imaging devices, Dooni Corp makers of sound effectors, Illumino manufacturers of UV LED portable counterfeit detectors,
Rollingseeds developers of user-friendly game consoles, Share & Share producers of smart door locks, Goonies creators of smart edutainment devices and Sonic Dutch Korea manufacturers of coffee extractors.
Other participating companies include Maete (AI functional memory foam pillows), Gateways (indoor fitness gaming devices), Boomengine (smart flower pots), AWESOMEAB (eco-friendly portable water warmers), Worldhumantec (portable self-defense devices), Gkkelab (temperature-controlled heat gloves), Honey IT (sleep care devices), and BOREA (detachable air sterilizers for vehicles).
Konza Technopolis has benefited significantly from previous Korean-funded projects, including the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Ke-AIST), modeled after Korea’s KAIST, which will open in early 2025 for postgraduate STEM studies. Additionally, the Konza Media City project secured $294 million during the recent Korea-Africa Summit in June 2024.
“This MoU marks a new chapter for Konza Technopolis as we enter the next phase of development. Through this partnership, Korean electronic companies will establish a manufacturing support center, enabling them to produce their products locally,” said John Paul Okwiri, CEO of Konza Technopolis.
The collaboration is expected to significantly enhance Kenya’s manufacturing sector and further position Konza Technopolis as a key player in Africa’s growing technology ecosystem.