KIMFT holds meeting with Kenyan government on diversifying maritime workforce supply

[Financial News] The Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology said on the 20th that it had recently held a roundtable to explore employment opportunities at Korean shipping companies for skilled Kenyan maritime personnel and strengthen maritime cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting followed up on the agreement on mutual recognition of maritime licenses signed by South Korea and Kenya last June. Attendees included Kenyan government officials, such as a senior secretary in the office of Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs and a deputy director of the Kenya Maritime Authority, as well as representatives from 18 Korean shipping companies, including HMM Ocean Service and G Marine Service.
The Kenyan side gave a detailed explanation of its policies for training maritime personnel, the state of supply and demand for maritime personnel in Kenya, and its future plans under the “Blue Economy” policy, a key national priority. Representatives of five maritime training institutions in Kenya then introduced their institutions’ training curricula, progress in training personnel and future plans directly to Korean shipping companies.
Emi Jerono Kipsoi, Kenya’s ambassador to South Korea, said, “The agreement on mutual recognition of maritime licenses signed last June is an important milestone in maritime cooperation between our two countries. I would like to learn a range of know-how and experience for developing the maritime industry through cooperation between South Korea and Kenya. I hope we can build business opportunities that benefit both countries through a lasting partnership, rather than one-off cooperation.”
A representative of the Korean shipping industry said, “This meeting was a practical step toward opening the door for young, talented Kenyan maritime personnel to join Korean fleets. We expect it to be a positive turning point that will help Korean shipping companies, which continue to face a shortage of seafarers, diversify their sources of maritime personnel.”
Yoon Hyun-soo, president of the Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology, said, “It is significant that through this ODA project, we have identified Kenya as a new source of high-quality seafarers who can be supplied reliably to Korean shipping companies. Through our excellent system for passing on maritime skills, we will continue to diversify sources of seafarers in Kenya, Tanzania and other countries.”
[email protected] Byun Ok-hwan Reporter