Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung (R) poses for a photo with the African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina in Seoul on June 4, 2024, in this photo released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jun. 5 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s agriculture ministry said Wednesday it has agreed to forge deeper ties with the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung shared ideas on the agenda with AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina in Seoul the previous day on the margins of the two-day Korea-Africa Summit, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
During the meeting, Song asked Adesina to continue to pay close attention to South Korea’s efforts to broaden cooperation with Africa through the K-Rice Belt initiative, which aims at supplying high-yield rice varieties and sharing its farming know-how with the continent.
In response, Adesina expressed gratitude to South Korea for its support in the agricultural sector, noting that the country’s experience in improving food supply will help the development of the continent.
“We hope that South Korea’s K-Rice Belt project, along with other food and technology projects, can spread throughout the continent through the AfDB,” Song said.
“We also hope that such contributions can help Africa address food shortages and expand to other areas of economic cooperation, including the digital transition, regional development, fostering of young farmers and the supply chain of key minerals,” the minister added.
(Yonhap)
