South Korea to Expand Africa Partnership With AI and Digital Technology Investments

South Korea is seeking to deepen its long-standing economic partnership with Africa by expanding cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), digital technology and other areas seen as critical to the continent’s development.

Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy Koo Yun-cheol announced the plan in Seoul on September 9, 2026, during a press conference with African Development Bank Group President Dr Sidi Ould Tah.

Koo pointed to two decades of growing Korea-Africa cooperation, including through the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) Trust Fund, which is managed by the African Development Bank. He said the next phase of the partnership would focus on practical uses of AI and digital technology in sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, transport and skills development.

“The Republic of Korea wishes to strengthen its cooperation with the African continent in key sectors such as artificial intelligence and digital technology,” Koo said.

The announcement came during the eighth KOAFEC Ministerial Conference, held from September 8 to 11 under the theme “Harnessing AI and Digital Infrastructure for Africa’s Transformation.” The conference also marked the 20th anniversary of the KOAFEC partnership, bringing together government representatives, businesses, start-up founders, innovators and development institutions.

The African Development Bank estimates that inclusive development and deployment of AI could add as much as $1 trillion to Africa’s GDP by 2035. Ould Tah said Africa’s young population could be one of its biggest advantages in building an AI-driven economy, provided the continent has the infrastructure, institutions and opportunities needed to turn its demographic strength into economic growth.

“With the world’s youngest population, Africa’s greatest asset in the field of artificial intelligence is its people,” Ould Tah said. He also highlighted the continent’s reserves of critical minerals used in electric vehicles, batteries, renewable energy systems and digital technologies.

The Bank president said Africa wants to move beyond exporting raw materials and develop more local processing and manufacturing capacity. He added that the African Development Bank can provide financing and risk-mitigation tools to support Korean companies investing in major projects across the continent.

A new Joint Declaration and Action Plan adopted at the conference is expected to guide the next phase of Korea-Africa cooperation. The plan includes AI development in areas such as healthcare and agriculture, alongside capacity-building and governance, with the broader goal of supporting Africa’s digital and economic transformation.

The conference brought together ministers and government officials from 45 African countries, as well as Korean officials, private-sector representatives, technology start-ups, AI innovators and leaders of development institutions.