Samsung Electronics has announced that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Government of Ethiopia. This MOU is structured as a co-operative partnership to develop infrastructure through IT solutions – enhancing social welfare, education, health, security and e-government.
Following the visit to the Samsung Electronics Suwon Digital City, Dr. Tewodros Adehanom, a minister of Foreign Affairs, and a representative group of 15 vice-ministers from Ethiopia, along with Taehyub Lee, Senior Vice President of Global Policy & Relations Team at Samsung Electronics, discussed various co-operation approaches to help develop the country’s ICT sector.
Through the MOU, Samsung Electronics will provide 5 Smart Government Solutions – all aimed at developing Smart Education, Smart Job creation, Smart e-Government, Smart Safe Community and Smart Healthcare to improve Ethiopia from both an economical and social standpoint. Additionally, Samsung will establish a Samsung Engineering Academy in partnership with the Department of Education in Ethiopia to further drive skills development and transfer and create local technicians – with the possibility of job placement after graduation in Samsung brand stores and service centres.
Samsung will appoint a Samsung executive to act as an Ethiopian National technical University adviser, to systematically assist with the Academy knowhow to ensure curriculum and development are mapped and executed accordingly.
In addition, Ethiopian students will join Samsung’s Young Leader 100 programme – where outstanding young people from Ethiopia will have the opportunity to go to Samsung’s Head Quarters in Korea for 6 months where they will be trained as future leaders. On the contrary, Samsung will be sending Korean representatives to Samsung subsidiaries in Africa, including Ethiopia, to transfer skills and knowledge and ultimately foster growth.
“All these solutions (Samsung’s digital village, solar powered generator, solar powered health centre etc) have been implemented in countries across Africa, all at different stages of development. Samsung has the ability to tailor make these solutions based on real customer requirements, across Africa, and certainly this MOU with the Ethiopian Government will allow us to do exactly that – helping them meet their broader vision for the country,” says Taehyub Lee, Senior Vice President of Global Policy & Relations Team in Samsung Electronics. “It is going to be win-win strategy between Africa and Korea to provide mutual opportunity to both parties. We are determined to showcase how the public sector in Africa can benefit from our technology, especially in terms of improving operational efficiencies, cost effectiveness and streamlining engagement with the citizens of the country and look forward to working closely with the Ethiopian Government.”
In terms of strengthening non-governmental diplomacy, this MOU ceremony marks a significant event with Ethiopian representatives visiting Korea to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Korea.
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