Kenya’s Marine Authority is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with South Korea’s Coast Guard later this week. The MOU is intended to improve security within the country’s coastline.

Addressing local media earlier this week President Mwai Kibaki noted that he was ‘pleased to recognise that our two countries(South  Korea and Kenya) have had strong bonds of true friendship and partnership.’ According to a report compiled by the Kenya Revenue Authority, South Korea has imported over Ksh8.5 billion worth of products in the recent past.  The same report cited coffee, tea, non-ferrous metal waste and copper as some of Kenya’s top exports to the Republic of South Korea.

Kenya along with Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan are likely to benefit from a more efficient infrastructure if the proposed deal goes through.  The Lamu project will involve the construction of railways highways and pipelines that will be used to narrow the gap between the 5 East African countries. It is estimated to be a multi-billion dollar project.

Prime Minister Kim also presided over another MOU granting the University of Nairobi Ksh5 million which will be geared towards Korean studies. The move serves as a show of good faith between the two countries.