Zim-South Korea deepen ties

ZIMBABWE and South Korea are working on modalities to partner in capacitating local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and women through creating access to markets, exhibitions and some technical support from Korea, which will see the sector grow.

This was said during a courtesy call by the South Korean Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Park Jae Kyung to the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Senator Monica Mutsvangwa recently.

During the visit, the two spoke of the need to increase co-operation between the two countries.

Last year, Republic of Korea’s Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn met President Mnangagwa at State House, where Mr Ahn called for the deepening of economic ties for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

He said there is potential for Zimbabwe in terms of economic growth, with hopes to deepen economic and trade relationships with this country.

The Republic of Korea and Zimbabwe established their diplomatic relations in 1994 and the Korean government opened its embassy in Harare, in 1995.

During the meeting, Sen Mutsvangwa said: “As a country, we are open for business and the work of my ministry is to make sure that we empower our women, support our SMEs, communities and this is a testament of why this ministry was established by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Dr ED Mnangagwa.”

“There are a lot of areas on which we can collaborate and work together. Our SMEs need to grow and sell their products and with you, we can be able to create markets for them to export their products to South Korea.”

She said this will even further create access to South Korean exhibitions and markets for women and they can grow in their businesses.

“We can also share experiences between our two countries, on women empowerment and SMEs, technical support and also value chain development.

“It is through co-operation that Zimbabwe can achieve its Vision 2030,” she said.

The minister also called for the need to cooperate with South Korea and benefit from their technological developments for the benefit of SMEs in the country.

“Through the ministry, we have a lot of women who are into food processing, value addition, agriculture and mining sectors.

“There is a need to provide them with technical support and equipment so that they can grow and promote the establishment of value addition centres for women,” she said.

South Korea’s Amb Kyung said his Government is working on implementing programmes and projects that will benefit both countries.

“We want to work closely with Zimbabwe and promote more investment between our two countries,” he said.
Amb Kyung added that gender issues are very sensitive and the Korean government is also working on this area.

“Women empowerment is no longer limited to human rights issues or women’s rights issues, but it is now an economic issue. We are on the same page with your country,” he said.

“Where there are ten people, at least three of them should be women.”

He also said the South Korea Embassy will be participating at this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair with their Korean companies exhibiting at the trade fair. —chronicle