In a major boost to Kenya’s textile industry and employment sector, South Korea’s textile manufacturer YongWan is set to create at least 2,000 jobs for Kenyans through its soon-to-be-completed manufacturing plant in the country.
The announcement was made by Kang Hyungshik, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Kenya, during a meeting with the Kenya-Korea Parliamentary Friendship Group. The envoy revealed that construction of the state-of-the-art facility is in its final stages, marking a significant step in strengthening economic ties between the two nations.
“This is just the beginning,” said Ambassador Kang. “We look forward to building a longstanding, dynamic partnership between Korea and Kenya.”
The YongWan project is part of a broader initiative by South Korea to deepen its investment footprint in Kenya across various sectors. Both countries are actively working to expand collaboration in areas such as textile manufacturing, the blue economy, maritime development, and water and irrigation infrastructure, particularly through development aid and strategic cooperation.
Kenya is also set to make history by hosting the 11th United Nations Ocean Conference in Mombasa in 2026, the first African country to do so. Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi highlighted the event as a powerful opportunity to scale up maritime partnerships with South Korea.
“This landmark event will allow us to strengthen cooperation in maritime innovation, sea farming, and shipbuilding,” she stated.
Chair of the Kenya-Korea Parliamentary Group, Aldai MP Mary Keitany, emphasized the need for Kenya to adopt South Korea’s economic strategies. “Twenty years ago, our economies were at par. Today, Korea is among the world’s leading economies. We must learn from their model and focus on economic and knowledge exchange,” she said.
Lawmakers also pointed to further areas of potential collaboration, including agriculture, health research, and industrial partnerships. Mwea MP Mary Maingi noted the role of institutions like KEMRI and emerging projects such as a botanical garden and graduate institute as possible touchpoints for bilateral development.
With the backing of institutions like Exim Bank and renewed focus on reviving Kenya’s cotton and textile value chains, the YongWan investment is poised to be a transformative force in boosting local manufacturing, job creation, and Kenya’s global trade competitiveness.
