Seoul meeting strengthens Korea–Africa partnership, Namibia participates

Staff Reporter AMBASSADOR Julia Imene-Chaduru has led Namibia’s delegation to the 2026 Korea–Africa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Seoul, where African and Korean officials agreed to deepen cooperation across trade, investment, technology, infrastructure, agriculture, and sustainable development, while reinforcing joint responses to global challenges. The meeting, convened from 1 to 2 June 2026 under the theme “Building Bridges for Shared Prosperity and Sustainable Development,” brought together foreign ministers and senior representatives from African countries, the Republic of Korea, the African Union, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). Discussions focused on strengthening Korea–Africa relations following the 2024 Korea–Africa Summit, with both sides recognising shared development priorities aligned with Africa’s Agenda 2063 and Korea’s broader global engagement strategy.

Delegates also added the impact of ongoing geopolitical instability on food security and economic stability, and highlighted Africa’s growing strategic importance in global supply chains, particularly in critical minerals and maritime routes. On economic cooperation, the two sides agreed to enhance trade and investment frameworks, including support for bilateral agreements and improved market access, while advancing African regional integration through the AfCFTA. Korea also reaffirmed support for capacity building, customs modernisation, and trade facilitation initiatives, alongside expanded investment in infrastructure such as transport, energy, water and logistics systems.