Seoul: Deputy Trade Minister Park Jong-won announced that the South Korean government is committed to enhancing institutional frameworks to boost trade and investment opportunities with African nations. This announcement was made during an Africa business forum held in Seoul, which served as a follow-up to the South Korea-Africa summit conducted in June, aimed at deepening cooperation with African partners. According to Yonhap News Agency, the forum was organized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to evaluate the outcomes of the previous summit and to discuss future directions for economic collaboration between South Korea and African countries. In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister Park outlined strategic plans to establish an Economic Partnership Agreement and a Trade and Investment Promotion Framework with additional African nations. These initiatives are intended to facilitate smoother trade and investment activities. Park emphasized the importance of the upcoming 2024 Korea-Africa Summit, calling it a significant milestone in the collaboration between South Korea and Africa. He stressed that both parties need to actively work towards advancing and implementing the accomplishments achieved during the June summit. During that summit, South Korea signed nearly 50 preliminary agreements with African countries, focusing on enhancing cooperation in areas such as trade, energy, critical minerals, and other economic sectors. Additionally, Park highlighted plans to support the execution of summit agreements and to develop new cooperation projects through various platforms. The forum witnessed participation from approximately 200 individuals, including government officials, business leaders, and academics from both South Korea and Africa, reflecting the significant interest and commitment to strengthening economic ties between the regions.