According to Yonhap News,

(SEOUL=Yonhap News) South Korean President Park Geun-hye's visit to Africa has laid the groundwork for full-fledged cooperation between the two sides in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, a top official here said Tuesday.

Park is traveling to Kenya after trips to Ethiopia and Uganda.

Officials here describe Africa as a "land of opportunity" for South Korea struggling to revitalize its economy.

"In particular, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya are important partners, given their growth potential and determination to cooperate with South Korea," Choi Yang-hee, minister of science, ICT and future planning, said.

Both Uganda and Kenya are seeking to build ICT infrastructure in a national development project aimed at transforming their agriculture-centered economy into a manufacturing-based one.

For many African countries, South Korea is a role model. It has successfully transformed itself from a recipient of official development assistance (ODA) to a significant donor.

Choi stressed that the government will step up efforts for "cooperation for co-prosperity" with Africa based on science and ICT, capitalizing on the president's landmark visit there.

Last week, South Korea signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ethiopia to promote partnerships in the ICT field.

It also inked an MOU with Uganda on boosting ICT ties.

The Korea Radio Promotion Association (RAPA) opened a joint digital content production center at Uganda's Ministry of Information and Communication Technology earlier this week.

South Korea plans to sign an MOU on ICT partnerships with Kenya in June, with more consultations on the wordings of the accord needed.

Kenya is pushing for the construction of a college modeled after the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) with the assistance of South Korea's Economic Development Cooperation Fund.

lcd@yna.co.kr

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