First high-level official visit in 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations
Togo accounts for 10% of Korea-Africa trade volume
Prime Minister of Togo “Digital, energy and security cooperation”
Prime Minister Han Deok-soo, who is touring Africa, met with Prime Minister Victor Tomega-Dogbe to discuss economic, agricultural and development cooperation and requested support for hosting the 2030 Busan World Expo.
Prime Minister Han made an official visit to Togo on the 30th of last month (local time) and held a meeting between the two countries’ prime ministers with Prime Minister Tomega-Dogbe on the 31st. Prime Minister Han became the first high-ranking official to visit Togo to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Prime Minister Han pointed out that Togo is a major partner country, accounting for about 10% of Korea’s trade with Africa, and that it possesses large quantities of key strategic minerals such as phosphate, chromium, and manganese, and called for a basis for institutional cooperation, such as promoting the conclusion of an investment protection agreement and a double taxation prevention agreement. He said, let’s prepare it.
Prime Minister Han also said that he hopes that Korea, which has extensive experience in economic development, will help Togo implement its ‘National Development Plan’ and ‘2025 Government Roadmap’ and discover and promote development cooperation projects that can contribute to Togo’s economic development in the future.
Prime Minister Han also requested President Por Nyasingbe and Prime Minister Tomega-Dogbe’s interest in the 2030 Busan World Expo and the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit.
Prime Minister Tomega-Dogbe explained his vision to become a logistics center in West Africa based on the Port of Lomé, the only deep-sea port in the Gulf of Guinea, and announced that he would support Korean companies’ expansion into Togo.
He then evaluated the contribution of development cooperation projects such as agriculture, health, education, and climate change response that have been made between the two countries, and said that going forward, we will strengthen cooperation in the areas of digital, energy, security, agriculture, trade, investment, and capacity building.
The two countries agreed to actively cooperate in strengthening maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea as members of the Gulf of Guinea anti-piracy group. Prime Minister Han also explained Korea’s will to contribute to resolving the political instability and humanitarian crisis in the Sahel region as a non-permanent member of the Security Council in 2024-25.
After the meeting, the two prime ministers inspected the Port of Lome and a vocational training center to check the status of Togo’s economic development.
Prime Minister Han held a meeting with Togolese compatriot representatives on the 31st to evaluate the efforts of the compatriot community and listen to their difficulties before moving on to Cameroon, the third country of his visit.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.