Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DAKAR443
2009-04-07 10:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Dakar
Cable title:
KOREAN FIRMS INTERESTED IN MCC CONTRACTS AS AN ENTRY TO
how-toVZCZCXRO1378 PP RUEHDT RUEHLMC RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHPB DE RUEHDK #0443 0971001 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 071001Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2194 INFO RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0025 RUCNMCM/MCC COLLECTIVE RUEHLMC/MCC WASHDC
UNCLAS DAKAR 000443
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR EEB/IFD/ODF:KENSTROM; AF/W, AF/EPS, AND EAP/K
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EFIN ECON KMCC PREL KO SG
SUBJECT: KOREAN FIRMS INTERESTED IN MCC CONTRACTS AS AN ENTRY TO
AFRICA
UNCLAS DAKAR 000443
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR EEB/IFD/ODF:KENSTROM; AF/W, AF/EPS, AND EAP/K
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EFIN ECON KMCC PREL KO SG
SUBJECT: KOREAN FIRMS INTERESTED IN MCC CONTRACTS AS AN ENTRY TO
AFRICA
1. (SBU) On March 27, Mr. Ki-Joung Cho, DCM at the Republic of
Korea's Embassy in Dakar called on Econ Counselor to inquire about
the status of Senegal's MCC Compact proposal and to ask if
implementation contracts are open to non-U.S. firms. Cho explained
that his government had received inquiries from Korean firms who
were interested in pursuing opportunities with MCC, particularly in
Africa. Cho added that there are "lots" of good Korean firms,
particularly for road construction and other infrastructure projects
who could be competitive in open tenders. When asked if Korean
firms were significantly present in Africa, Cho admitted they were
not. He explained that Africa seems very distant and "different"
for Korean companies, who have instead focused on gaining a foothold
in Middle East markets in recent years. Cho said that through MCC
contracts, Korean firms hoped to gain experience and exposure in
Africa that would encourage them to pursue other opportunities on
the continent.
2. (U) Econ Counselor noted that MCC compacts follow strict
guidelines for openness and that there may well be opportunities for
foreign firms to bid on project or supply contracts and suggested
that Cho's colleagues in Washington might want to arrange a meeting
with the MCC. EconCouns also recommended that Cho meet with MCC
country officials and host country accountable entities in
neighboring countries who have compacts in place, such as Mali,
Burkina Faso, and Cape Verde.
3. (U) The ROK embassy in Dakar covers many neighboring countries,
but Senegal is the only WAEMU country with a significant Korea
International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) presence, and this is
fairly new. KOICA is focusing on agriculture (including rice
production projects) and education (building some high schools).
There are currently forty KOICA volunteers in the country (doing
small-scale technical assistance similar to Peace Corps and JICA),
but Cho believes that number will increase to sixty later this year.
BERNICAT
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR EEB/IFD/ODF:KENSTROM; AF/W, AF/EPS, AND EAP/K
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EFIN ECON KMCC PREL KO SG
SUBJECT: KOREAN FIRMS INTERESTED IN MCC CONTRACTS AS AN ENTRY TO
AFRICA
1. (SBU) On March 27, Mr. Ki-Joung Cho, DCM at the Republic of
Korea's Embassy in Dakar called on Econ Counselor to inquire about
the status of Senegal's MCC Compact proposal and to ask if
implementation contracts are open to non-U.S. firms. Cho explained
that his government had received inquiries from Korean firms who
were interested in pursuing opportunities with MCC, particularly in
Africa. Cho added that there are "lots" of good Korean firms,
particularly for road construction and other infrastructure projects
who could be competitive in open tenders. When asked if Korean
firms were significantly present in Africa, Cho admitted they were
not. He explained that Africa seems very distant and "different"
for Korean companies, who have instead focused on gaining a foothold
in Middle East markets in recent years. Cho said that through MCC
contracts, Korean firms hoped to gain experience and exposure in
Africa that would encourage them to pursue other opportunities on
the continent.
2. (U) Econ Counselor noted that MCC compacts follow strict
guidelines for openness and that there may well be opportunities for
foreign firms to bid on project or supply contracts and suggested
that Cho's colleagues in Washington might want to arrange a meeting
with the MCC. EconCouns also recommended that Cho meet with MCC
country officials and host country accountable entities in
neighboring countries who have compacts in place, such as Mali,
Burkina Faso, and Cape Verde.
3. (U) The ROK embassy in Dakar covers many neighboring countries,
but Senegal is the only WAEMU country with a significant Korea
International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) presence, and this is
fairly new. KOICA is focusing on agriculture (including rice
production projects) and education (building some high schools).
There are currently forty KOICA volunteers in the country (doing
small-scale technical assistance similar to Peace Corps and JICA),
but Cho believes that number will increase to sixty later this year.
BERNICAT