Africa and South Korea: A new economic partnership towards growth and innovation

Written by: Mohammed Omran

The Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), His Excellency Wamkele Min, affirmed that the strategic partnership between Africa and the Republic of Korea is experiencing rapid growth, and is based on trade, investment, manufacturing, digital transformation and sustainable development.

This came during his speech at the Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers' Meeting 2026.

Min explained that the agreement has made significant progress in the implementation phases, including the adoption of key protocols relating to investment, intellectual property rights and digital trade, steps that contribute to building a more integrated and competitive African market.

Expanding cooperation with Korea in the areas of trade, investment and digital transformation

He noted that the digital economy in Africa, initiatives to modernize customs systems, the development of small and medium enterprises, and the green manufacturing agenda offer promising opportunities to deepen cooperation between Korea and African countries.

With intra-continental trade expected to increase significantly over the next decade, Min reaffirmed Africa’s readiness to work with Korea to achieve shared prosperity by promoting trade and innovation and supporting sustainable economic growth.