President Park Geun-hye left for Ethiopia on Wednesday on a 12-day, four-nation tour to Africa and France that is expected to boost bilateral ties.
The trip, which also takes Park to Uganda and Kenya, comes as South Korean companies are pushing to expand business opportunities in these foreign markets that could give a much-needed boost to Asia's fourth-largest economy.
(Yonhap)
Africa has emerged as a continent of opportunity in recent years, though South Korea has yet to make significant foray into these markets. The country's outbound shipments to Africa accounted for just 1.4 percent of its total exports last year, according to government data.
South Korea's chief executive is set to meet with Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and President Mulatu Teshome during her trip to Addis Ababa from May 25 to 28.
In Ethiopia, Park is also scheduled to deliver a speech at the headquarters of the African Union and meet with African Union Commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the two sides.
The trip is then set to take the president to Kampala for talks with Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni on Sunday. This meeting will mark the first time that a South Korean president had visited Uganda since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1963.
Seoul said the trip could serve as an important occasion to boost ties with major countries in Africa over North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs, citing Uganda is a key hub of operations for North Korea in Africa.
South Korea's leader is set to fly to Nairobi, the third stop on her swing through Africa for talks with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Park plans to attend ceremonies for South Korea's official development assistance programs in the three African countries. The Korea Aid program is designed to provide health service, food and cultural contents to local people.
South Korea -- which has become the first former aid recipient to join the ranks of official donors in a half century -- has so far concentrated its aid on Asia, but has recently expanded its assistance to African nations.
Seoul has earmarked 2.43 trillion won ($2.10 billion) for its
2016 ODA budget to be used on some 1,230 overseas aid projects.
The presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae said the latest trip is expected to assist economic and social development of the three African countries and pave the way for South Korean companies to make headway into these markets with good growth potential.
Park could strengthen development cooperation with the African countries through the Korea Aid program and share South Korea’s economic development with the countries, a move that could deepen ties with the African countries.
The tour is also set to take Park to France for a state visit on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Park will meet with her French counterpart Francois Hollande to discuss a wide-range of issues, including economy and culture, as well as North Korea’s nuclear program and other global issues.
The two leaders are scheduled to adopt a joint declaration to mark the long-standing establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Last year, Park visited Paris to attend the U.N. climate change summit. (Yonhap)
