South Korea-Africa AI and digital cooperation

The 8th Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) Ministerial Conference convened in Seoul with a focus on “Harnessing AI and Digital Infrastructure for Africa’s Transformation.” This event marked the first time the 20-year partnership centered its agenda on artificial intelligence.

Following the conference, South Korea and the African Development Bank (AfDB) established a partnership to create an artificial intelligence hub designed to strengthen Africa's digital ecosystems. Agreements signed during the summit include a memorandum of understanding for project financing and government program preparation, alongside a letter of intent regarding the digital sector.

The proposed hub aims to centralize technical expertise, training, and computing infrastructure. This cooperation serves mutual strategic interests: providing a framework for African digital skill-building while offering South Korea a pathway to secure critical raw materials, such as cobalt and lithium, necessary for its high-tech industries.

Building on this framework, the AfDB presented five regional projects to Korean investors aimed at critical minerals. This initiative seeks to transition Africa from a raw material exporter to a producer of refined and processed goods, thereby increasing local value addition and job creation.

Additionally, the AfDB signed a three-year letter of intent with South Korea’s National Information Society Agency (NIA) to advance digital transformation. This cooperation will address data governance, the development of AI-ready datasets, and digital public infrastructure. Under this arrangement, the NIA will provide technical expertise while the AfDB identifies regional priorities and mobilizes financing through the KOAFEC trust fund.