The secretary-general of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) called for deeper economic ties with South Korea, saying the Asian nation’s expertise in technology and industrialization aligns with Africa’s push to integrate its markets and modernize its economy.
Wamkele Mene, speaking at the 2026 Korea–Africa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, said the partnership between the continent and Seoul is “anchored on trade, investment, industrialization, digital transformation, and sustainable development.”
The AfCFTA, which creates a single market for 1.4 billion people across 54 countries, has made significant strides in recent months, Mene said. The bloc has adopted key protocols on investment, intellectual property rights, and digital trade that are “laying the foundation for a more integrated and competitive African market,” he told ministers gathered for the annual diplomatic forum.
Africa’s digital economy, customs modernization programs, small-business development, and green industrialization agenda represent major opportunities for collaboration with Korean companies and institutions, Mene said. He noted that intra-African trade is projected to grow substantially in the coming decade as tariff barriers fall and regulatory harmonization advances.
“We reaffirm Africa’s readiness to work with Korea to unlock shared prosperity through enhanced trade, innovation, and sustainable economic growth,” Mene said.
The Korea–Africa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting serves as a high-level diplomatic forum for coordinating bilateral cooperation between Seoul and African capitals.
