Korea/Africa Next Developmental Partnership-Push on AI and Digital Infrastructure
As KOAFEC marks 20 years, a new action plan is expected to outline how technology, investment and African talent can drive jobs, better governance and more inclusive growth.
Two decades after its establishment, the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) partnership is preparing to chart a new course, placing artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure at the centre of Africa’s development ambitions.
The 8th KOAFEC Ministerial Conference, scheduled for 8th – 11th of September, 2026 in Seoul, will bring together African ministers, Korean officials, development partners, investors, innovators and start-up founders under the theme, “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence and Digital Infrastructure to Accelerate Africa’s Development.”
The meeting is expected to culminate in a Joint Declaration and the unveiling of the 2027-2028 Action Plan, covering digital transformation and AI, energy, infrastructure, trade, private-sector development and human capital.
Africans would see this as a significant dimension away from technology. Better digital infrastructure could expand access to education, healthcare, financial services and markets, while AI-enabled businesses could create new opportunities for young people and strengthen local innovation. But the benefits will depend on whether African countries can build the skills, affordable connectivity and institutions needed to ensure technology serves a comprehensive social interests, rather than deepening existing inequalities.
The governance implications are equally important. Digital systems can improve public-service delivery, transparency and economic planning, but AI also raises questions about data protection, accountability, bias, the responsible use of automated decision-making and so on. As African governments adopt these technologies, the partnership will need to support infrastructure and investment, also driving strong regulatory frameworks for public trust.
The conference will mark the 20th anniversary of KOAFEC, which was established in 2006 as a flagship platform for Korea-Africa economic cooperation. The African Development Bank Group, Korea’s Ministry of Finance and Economy, and the Korea Export-Import Bank, are founding pillars of the partnership.
The Bank’s President, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, will lead its delegation to Seoul. The discussions align with his strategic priorities of mobilising Africa’s capital, strengthening financial sovereignty, turning demographic growth into a dividend, and building resilient infrastructure and competitive value chains.
Since its creation in the early 2000, the KOAFEC Trust Fund has provided about $50 million in project-preparation support, helping to catalyze an investment pipeline that will exceed $6 billion, mobilising around $4 billion in financing. Its support has impacted sectors like energy, agriculture, infrastructure, digital transformation and private-sector development, and has reached more than 1300 start-ups, entrepreneurs, as well as contributing to over 5,000 jobs.
Nonetheless, Africa’s next phase of digital development, will require more than imported technology. The continent’s youthful population, critical minerals, expanding market, etc., present opportunities to build industries and retain greater value locally. The challenge is to ensure that Korean expertise and investment, complement African capital, talent and priorities.
As KOAFEC enters its third decade, its success will ultimately painted by the infrastructure built, investments announced, and as their gains translate into productive jobs, stronger public institutions, wider digital access and improved quality of lives, for Africans.
