Korea-Africa Summit: Korea and Zimbabwe Discuss Expansion of Agricultural Cooperation

Sejong, 4 June 2024 — On 4 June 2024 in Seoul, Minister Song Miryung of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea met with Minister Anxious Jongwe Masuka of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development of the Republic of Zimbabwe. The two ministers have evaluated the bilateral agricultural cooperation made so far between both sides and discussed ways for expansion of exchanges.

Zambabwe has long been in a cooperative relationship with South Korea in the field of agriculture. Since 2010, Zimbabwe has been participating in the KAFACI (Korea-Africa Food & Agricultural Cooperation Initiative); and in 2016, the nation joined the KOPIA (Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture).

On 5 June, at the Korea-Africa Agricultural Conference in Seoul, South Korea and Zimbabwe will sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the implementation of the K-Ricebelt project. Both sides shared opinions on closer cooperation to address the food security issue of Zimbabwe.

At a meeting with Minister Anxious Jongwe Masuka of Zimbabwe, Korean Agriculture Minister Song Miryung asked for bilateral active cooperation so that Korean agricultural machines and equipment can be widely used in Africa’s agriculture, as Zimbabwe has expressed an intention of cooperation with South Korea in diverse areas such as diversification of supply chains of fertilizers, development of agricultural machines, nurturing the food processing industry, etc.