Deputy Minister Ebrahim to participate in 2nd Korea-Africa forum, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 24 – 25 November 2009

Pretoria – International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim will lead the South African delegation to the Second the Korea-Africa Forum scheduled for 24 – 25 November 2009 in Seoul, South Korea. The Ministerial Meeting will be preceded by a senior officials meeting scheduled for 23 November 2009.

South Africa participates in the Second Korea-Africa Forum within the context of deepening South–South cooperation and to further explore possible areas of cooperation between Korea and the African continent. The Korea-Africa Partnership is in line with government national priorities and is of strategic importance to South Africa.

Accordingly key priorities for the Second Korea-Africa Forum are as follows:

• Increase Trade and promote Korean investment on the continent.
• Infrastructure & Sustainable Natural Resources Development,
• Information and Communication Technology,
• Human Resources Development,
• Knowledge Sharing on Korea’s Development Experience,
• Agricultural and Rural Development,
• Green Growth Partnership.

In addition Deputy Minister Ebrahim is expected to make a presentation on the “Korea-Africa Green Growth Partnership” together with nine other presenters drawn from AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and experts. The key outcomes of the Forum are the adoption of the Seoul Declaration as well as the Action Plan.

The cooperation between Korea and Africa should be considered a strategic engagement given that South Korea is one of the first donor recipient countries to turn into a donor country through rapid economic growth and Africa stands to benefit from Korean economic transformation.

While in South Korea Deputy Minister will meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea and will visit the “Saemaul Undong” Rural Development Project, among others. Rural Development is one of the 10 Government priorities as highlighted by President Zuma. The bilateral meeting between South Africa and South Korea, scheduled for 25 November 2009, will seek to examine ways to enhance existing bilateral relations, particularly deepening cooperation in the area of technology.

South Korea has been participating in South Africa’s Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) program since it was put in place. Accordingly, the bilateral meeting between the two countries will afford the Deputy Minister an opportunity to get some assessment of the current discussions and understanding of what’s happening in the Korean stray.
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There is a scope for creating a more dynamic synergy between the economy and environmental matters in the adoption of the paradigm of Green Growth. Korea has been a driver of Green Growth in the Asia and Pacific region which has seen rapid economic growth in recent years.

The First Africa Korea Partnership Forum was held on 8 November 2006. The Forum was initiated by Korea under the theme “Towards the co-prosperity of Asia and Africa” that should meet every three years at ministerial level. This was held at Summit level with Presidents from Benin, Congo (Brazzaville), Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania in attendance following the first ever visit to Africa by a Korean President in over 24 years.  South Africa and other 24 countries were represented at ministerial level.

Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim is expected to return to South Africa on 27 November 2009.

For more information contact the Chief Director for Public Diplomacy, Saul Kgomotso Molobi on 0829401647.

Issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation
Private Bag X152
Pretoria, 0001

22 November 2009