South Korea on Wednesday pledged to expand its official development assistance to Africa and further enhance bilateral cooperation in the overall development of the emerging continent.

Seoul made the commitment in a Seoul declaration adopted during the third Korea-Africa Forum, which kicked off its three-day run at a hotel in the capital on Tuesday.

“It is our duty to return to Africa and other developing countries the help we received from the world as we grew,” said Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik during his welcoming speech.

“I am convinced that we can open a future of co-prosperity should we harmonize Korea’s development experience and Africa’s potential which is like a gemstone.” 

Seoul’s Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan said that Korea’s ODA to Africa would double this year from the figure recorded in 2008, underscoring that the country’s support for Africa in a variety of sectors including security would continue.

Korea’s ODA to Africa, which stood at $42.4 million in 2005, jumped to $107.1 million in 2008.

“As promised in the second forum three years ago, we have sent some 1,000 volunteers to Africa and Seoul’s ODA will jump two-fold this year,” he said during his keynote speech.

Kim also stressed that Korea has made constant efforts for peace in Africa,

“We have actively participated in an anti-piracy campaign off the Somali coast and plan to send peace-keeping troops to South Sudan.”

The action plans, announced to be implemented from 2013 to 2015, were expected to include Korea’s operation of a center to educate African public officials on advanced governance systems.

Under the slogan “Sharing Today and Shining Tomorrow,” the triennial forum brought together some 150 officials including foreign ministers from some 15 African states. Among the high-profile participants was Zambian President Michael Sata.

Hosted by Seoul’s Foreign Ministry and the African Union, the triennial ministerial-level forum aims to enhance bilateral development cooperation and efforts to tackle regional and global challenges in security, environment and other areas.

The forum was divided into three major sessions under the themes of development cooperation; trade and investment; and peace and security. Among renowned presenters were Jeffrey Sachs, economics professor at Columbia University and Abdul Aziz Khalaf, the director general of the Arab Bank for African Economic Development.

The gathering was initiated by former President Roh Moo-hyun’s 2006 initiative to help develop Africa.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)