JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – South Korean Presidential Special Envoy led by Busan Mayor, Park Heong-joon in conjunction with Samsung Africa – recently met with the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor – to request support for the 2030 World Expo bid as well as discuss ways to further strengthen existing strategic partnerships and bilateral relations between the two countries.

This meeting also provided an opportunity for the Busan Mayor as a special envoy of President Yoon Suk-yeol accompanied by representatives from Busan City, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the 2030 Busan World Expo Bid Team, the Embassy and South Korean companies including Samsung Africa to deliver a letter from the South Korean President inviting the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister Pandor to the 2024 Korea-Africa Special Summit.

Hlubi Shivanda, Director: Business Operations and Innovation and Corporate Affairs at Samsung South Africa said: “As Samsung, we believe that the Busan World Expo 2030 would be the perfect platform for South Korea to share its technological advancements and how it views technology as the main catalyst for an eco-friendly and green future in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. World Expos focus on creating a better future for all humankind – this is in line with our vision of Enabling People for the upliftment of humanity through innovation, industrialisation and digitalisation.”

South Africa is — South Korea’s largest trading partner in Africa, while — South Korea is South Africa’s fourth largest trading partner in Asia with more than 30 South Korean companies, including Samsung present in South Africa.

During the meeting, the parties deliberated on various areas of potential co-operation, including power, energy mix, nuclear energy, and human resource development. It was then agreed that the two countries would pursue practical co-operation projects through follow-up consultations between the Embassy of – South Korea in South Africa and the Embassy of South Africa in Seoul, as well as relevant ministries, agencies and companies. This strategic meeting was also an opportunity to reflect on the historical relationship between South Korea and South Africa and the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations which was officially celebrated last year.

“As Samsung, we believe that as part of a global community – these kinds of collaborations align perfectly with our dedication to remain an active contributor to the future of the South African economy and a strong supporter of economic transformation,” Shivanda added.

Samsung proudly supports Busan’s bid for the World Expo 2030.

Maseru, Lesotho – Busan Mayor, Park Heong-joon and a Korean Delegation that is part of South Korea’s Presidential Special Envoy accompanied by Samsung Africa CEO, Bumsuk Hong – visited Lesotho in an effort to attend an Investment Briefing Session that was planned for 24 February 2023.

The main aim for this Investment Briefing Session that was organised by the Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC) under the Department of Trade, Industry and Tourism was to strengthen further bonds of economic co-operation of the existing strategic partnerships and bilateral agreements between South Korea and Lesotho. During this briefing session, an invitation was also extended by the Presidential Envoy from South Korea that met with Lesotho’s Honourable Prime Minister Sam Matekane, its foreign affairs and finance ministers to attend South Korea’s special summit with Africa scheduled for 2024.

These kinds of engagements and partnerships are crucial to Lesotho’s socio-economic development aspirations. Lesotho has made great progress in the field of education and has ambitions to build a better future for its youth through education. As a long and reliable partner with a diplomatic relationship since 1996, the government of South Korea is planning to open vocational training centres, improve educational environments, help with the customs modernisation project and launch afforestation projects in Lesotho.

Hlubi Shivanda, Director: Business Operations and Innovation and Corporate Affairs at Samsung South Africa said: “All of this fits perfectly with Samsung’s ethos – the company believes that the future of any country lies in the hands of young people and that education gives them the greatest chance to realise their full potential. As Samsung, we are heavily invested in the development of people and communities and believe that this can only be achieved through working together with others.”

Recently, the company launched a partnership with Lesotho’s Lerotholi Polytechnic for the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) to boost youth employment in the technology sector. Samsung plans to continue seeking opportunities to collaborate with Lesotho government to further grow the country’s economy.

“This visit has provided both Samsung and South Korea an opportunity to re-affirm our commitment to assisting Lesotho achieve its education-related goals. Samsung is committed to empowering the youth of Lesotho with the skills that they will need to drive and effect meaningful change,” added Shivanda.

The visit has also allowed South Korea to yet again seek Lesotho’s support for the World Expo to be staged in Busan in 2030. World Expos focus on creating a better future for all humankind – this is in line with Lesotho’s economic developmental aspirations and Samsung’s vision of Enabling People for the upliftment of humanity through innovation, industrialisation and digitalisation.

Samsung proudly supports Busan’s bid for the World Expo 2030.

MASERU LESOTHO – February 2023 – During a recent tour to Lesotho, the South Korean delegation led by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Do-Hun Lee, which comprised of the Chief Executive Officer of Samsung Electronics Africa, Mr. Bumsuk Hong, amongst others, extended an invitation to the Prime Minister of Lesotho, Mr. Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane, to attend the Korea African Summit, in South Korea in 2024.

Mr Lee’s visit to the region, further strengthened –diplomatic relations between the two nations with economic cooperation being a primary focus.  According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations in Lesotho, Mr. Lejone Mpotjoane, the objective of the meeting was to seek -– Lesotho’s support for South Korea’s bid for the staging of the World Expo 2030 in Busan. The Busan World Expo 2030 would run from 01 May 2030 to the end of October 2030 should South Korea be successful in their bid.

The Busan World 2030 Expo focuses on creating a better future for all humankind and therefore fits perfectly into both government’s aspirations.  Samsung Electronics’ vision has always been the upliftment of humanity through technology and innovation.  Supporting this strategic partnership and the bid for the World Expo to be hosted in Busan, during the 2030 edition, would not only assist in strengthening the two countries’ bilateral agreement but also contribute in the development of Lesotho’s economy.

An equally important agenda item, was South Korea’s pledge to support the development of the Moshoeshoe International Airport and offer guidance and expertise within the Agricultural production sector. This South Korea pledge follows an earlier investment by Samsung though its CSR programs. In December 2022, Samsung launched the Samsung Innovation Campus with Lerotholi Polytechic, an IT education programme designed to provide opportunities to deserving and previously disadvantaged youth to gain skills in coding, programming, artificial intelligence and the internet.  Chief Executive Officer of Samsung Africa, -Mr. Hong, is extremely passionate about the programme given the educational themes that combine future core technology capabilities with soft skills that are essential for job creation.

Samsung strongly believes that Lesotho has an opportunity to further drive local developmental efforts leveraging World Expo.  It is the perfect platform to share technological advancements and act as a catalyst for eco-friendly innovations and a greener future for all, in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

As part of a global community, Samsung believes that these ongoing collaborations between these great nations, coupled by its empowerment initiatives, are designed to make a significant difference to all people.

Samsung proudly supports Busan’s bid for the World Expo 2030.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 26 October 2022 – South Africa and the Republic of Korea is commemorating the 30^th anniversary of diplomatic ties and Samsung has been part of the government discussions on continued bilateral relations between the two countries and other strategic partnership agreements.

These  engagements of strategic partners are a follow-up to the initial discussions in August that the global CEO of Samsung, Mr. Jong-Hee Han had during his recent visit in South Africa – where he met with the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr. Ebrahim Patel as well as the Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Dr Naledi Pandor. Mr Han’s visit focused on the company’s long-standing partnership, its long-term vision and continued collaboration with the South African government and possible future opportunities for growth and further investment.

Also, as part of Mr. Han’s discussions with the South African government in the August visit was South Korea’s Busan World Expo 2030 bid with both Ministers with the view of getting support locally for the bid. Importantly, World Expo’s are focused on creating a better future for all humankind and therefore fit perfectly into Samsung’s vision for the upliftment of humanity through technology and innovation. Samsung believes the World Expo being hosted in Busan during the 2030 edition would be the perfect platform to share its technological advancements and how it views technology as the main catalyst for an eco-friendly and green future in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in South Africa, the Korea-Africa Foundation (KAF) and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) recently hosted a seminar commemorating the 30-year milestone of diplomatic relations and trade agreements between the Republic of Korea and South Africa. In this seminar, Ambassador Ms. Ntombizodwa M Lallie, Deputy Director General at the Department of International Relations and Co-operation for South Africa (DIRCO) delivered congratulatory remarks where she acknowledged and emphasized the importance of honouring the obligations made – referring to the recent meeting between Samsung’s global CEO, DIRCO and DTIC Ministers on Samsung’s commitment and ambitions in contributing to South Africa’s economic transformation and prosperity.

On 12 October 2022, Minster Pandor paid a courtesy visit to the Samsung Headquarters in South Korea during her official visit to South Korea to mark the 30-year anniversary of diplomatic ties. This time she met Samsung Electronics President, Mr. Rhee In-yong and had further discussions in an effort to continue strengthening the existing strategic partnership.

Samsung has acknowledged the importance of the long-standing relationship and the critical role that Minister Pandor, who was previously the Minister of Education and most importantly, the Minister of Science and Technology – has played in strengthening the strategic partnership between the company and the South African government. The Minister’s track record and experience in these key government departments aligns perfectly with Samsung’s agenda around Education and Technology. Samsung has a number of empowerment, entrepreneurial and skills-based projects in the ICT sector in which it operates in.

Inspired by the transformative power of economic investment that took South Korea from one of the poorest countries in the world to one of the most successful economies, Samsung South Africa has re-affirmed its commitment to continue making incredible strides forward in its long-term vision for the country. This is reflected in the company’s continued investment in the country coupled with its Level 1 – BBBEE Rating for four (4) consecutive years, which is aligned with Samsung’s dedication to remain an active contributor to the future of the South African economy and strong supporter of economic transformation.

Importantly, Samsung has re-affirmed its commitment to continue building on the landmark multimillionaire Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP), which is already celebrating over three years of sustained success. Launched in May 2019 in partnership with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and sector support from the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), this programme is expected to have a measurable impact on job creation with a projected contribution of over a billion rands to the South African economy at large.

Samsung’s 10-year plan aims to address key developmental aspects linked to the National Development Plan and the overall transformation of the economy. Samsung’s EEIP programme is aligned to the DTIC’s Black Industrialisation programme through e-Waste recycling and beneficiation, which has seen an investment in two black, female-owned entities who now operate in the full value chain of e-Waste. It also has a strong focus on enterprise development and capacity building in ICT through scarce skills development. In addition, Samsung is developing 4IR skills in partnership with a number of institutions of higher learning in South Africa.

South African youth are gaining artisanal and electronics skills through the Samsung Engineering Academy programme as well as coding, software development, IOT and artificial intelligence skills through the Samsung Innovation Campus programme. Additionally, learners in grades 10 & 11 will be encouraged to solve social issues in their communities through Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition, which is being piloted in 51 schools across the country.

Ultimately, as part of a global community, these ongoing collaborations and empowerment initiatives are designed to make a difference to all people.