Seoul: Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo announced on Tuesday that the South Korean government is committed to fortifying the institutional frameworks necessary to enhance trade and investment opportunities with African nations. This statement was made during an Africa business forum in Seoul, which served as a follow-up to the South Korea-Africa summit held in June, aimed at fostering deeper collaboration between South Korea and its African partners. According to Yonhap News Agency, the forum was organized to assess the outcomes of the prior summit and to chart the future course of economic cooperation between South Korea and African countries. During his opening remarks, Minister Cheong outlined plans to establish an Economic Partnership Agreement alongside a Trade and Investment Promotion Framework with additional African nations, facilitating more seamless trade and investment activities. Minister Cheong remarked on the significance of the upcoming 2024 Korea-Africa Summit, calling it a vital milestone in th e partnership between South Korea and Africa. He stressed the importance of both parties actively pursuing and implementing the achievements realized during the June summit. At that summit, South Korea signed nearly 50 preliminary agreements with African countries, aimed at boosting collaboration across various sectors, including trade, energy, and critical minerals. In addition, Minister Cheong discussed strategies to support the execution of summit agreements and the development of new cooperative projects through multiple platforms. The forum saw participation from approximately 200 individuals, including government officials, business leaders, and academics from both South Korea and Africa.