2nd LD) Seoul to double Africa development aid to $214 mln by 2012

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(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with AU chief's comments, details)
By Lee Chi-dong and Tony Chang
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the African Union (AU) unveiled a
fresh vision Tuesday for ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and work
together on global issues, opening a new chapter in their rapidly developing
relations.

In the ministerial South Korea-Africa Forum here, the second of its kind, Seoul
pledged to double its development assistance to the continent to US$214 million
by 2012. It also said it will allow a greater number of African industrial
trainees -- as many as 5,000 -- to come to South Korea, and will increase the
number of South Korean aid workers in Africa to 1,000 by 2012.
"We agree to strengthen our partnership in order to support Africa in eradicating
poverty and achieving sustainable development as well as to promote the
prosperity of African countries and Korea," the Framework for Korea-Africa
Development Cooperation read.
The document is an updated version of South Korea's African Initiative in 2006,
in which it announced a plan to triple its Official Development Assistance (ODA)
for the continent to US$100 million by 2008.
The South Korea-Africa Forum was launched in 2006 as part of Seoul's efforts to
bolster ties with African countries. It is supposed to take place every three
years.
This year's meeting brought together more than 120 top African officials,
including Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, AU Commission Chairman Jean Ping
and foreign ministers from 15 countries selected in accordance with the AU's 2006
Banjul Formula.
"Korea succeeded in building a model economy in becoming a developed country. I'm
sure that in the future we will collectively develop our cooperation with Korea,"
Wade said in a speech at the forum, adding he admires what South Korea has
achieved in the education field.
Wade noted that Africa's population will soon top 1 billion but said that poor
education remains a huge problem. "Senegal spends 40 percent of budget in
education and training," he said.
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Un-chan said in his own congratulatory message
that "South Korea wants to share its know-how for high-speed economic growth that
has been accomplished over half a century."
The AU head thanked South Korea for "its resolve to support Africa in poverty
eradication and sustainable development efforts."
"We appreciate Korea for doubling the Official Development Aid by 2012 and for
taking into consideration African concerns and priorities like capacity
enhancement through training, education, health, human resources, technology
transfer, rural and agricultural development as well as other sectors," he said.
South Korea and the other participating nations also agreed to cooperate more
closely on global challenges, reaffirming their "common determination" to address
climate change and energy security in the Seoul Declaration, which summed up the
results of this year's forum.
African representatives also welcomed South Korea's assumption of the chair of
the G-20 summit next year, calling for the body to "effectively tackle" the
economic crisis.
On the environment, South Korea and the 15 African states adopted "Green Growth
Initiative 2009-2012," agreeing to expand channels for dialogue and ultimately
form a strong partnership on low-carbon green growth, according to the document.
Seoul in recent years has stepped up its diplomacy efforts towards Africa, with
credit and grant-type aid to the continent rising to a total of US$107.1 million
in 2008, compared to $42.4 million in 2005.
The funds, which will include both credit and grant-type aid, will be allocated
to a wide range of areas, most notably projects aimed at eradicating poverty and
fostering sustainable development.
Two-way trade between South Korea and African countries reached US$13.43 billion
in 2008, with Seoul's exports to Africa rising 13.7 percent on-year to $9.38
billion. In the first four months of 2009, exports to Africa jumped 24.9 percent
to $2.39 billion.
With the exception of Oceania, Africa is the only region where South Korean
exports grew coming into this year.
South Korea has been moving to acquire development rights and stakes in various
resource development ventures in Africa for the past several years to better
insulate itself from sudden fluctuations in international raw material prices.
Despite having a heavy-industry base, South Korea imports most of its raw
materials and resources from abroad.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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