Africa’s digital transformation is gaining new momentum as the Republic of Korea and African institutions deepen cooperation around artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and technology skills.
The partnership took a significant step forward during the eighth Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) Ministerial Conference in Seoul, where African countries, Korea and the African Development Bank adopted a Joint Declaration and Action Plan for 2027–2028.
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The roadmap places artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and human capital development at the centre of cooperation between Korea and Africa. It aims to move beyond discussions about technology towards practical investment and projects across several African countries.
The African Development Bank estimates that artificial intelligence could contribute as much as $1 trillion to Africa’s GDP by 2035, provided the continent makes the necessary investments in electricity, connectivity, data centres, digital skills and supportive policy frameworks.
This makes infrastructure a central part of Africa’s AI ambitions. Advanced AI systems require reliable electricity, computing capacity and high-quality data. Without these foundations, many African countries could struggle to move from experimenting with AI to deploying it at scale.
The Korea-Africa partnership seeks to address some of these gaps. The agreed initiatives include support for modular data centres, AI models that reflect African languages and cultures, digital public infrastructure and skills development.
A separate agreement between the African Development Bank and Korea’s National Information Society Agency also focuses on data governance, AI-ready datasets, digital public infrastructure, training and technical assistance for public-sector managers and engineers.
The cooperation is expected to extend into practical applications. The KOAFEC Action Plan includes projects involving artificial intelligence talent development, smart-city systems, digital governance, agriculture, healthcare, water management and electricity infrastructure.
For Africa, these applications could be particularly significant. In agriculture, digital technologies and AI can support precision farming and productivity. In healthcare, AI-assisted systems could strengthen diagnostics and information management. Digital tools can also improve public services and create new opportunities for young people entering technology-related careers.
Importantly, the partnership places emphasis on enabling African countries to participate in the development of AI rather than simply adopting technologies created elsewhere. This includes attention to African languages, local data and infrastructure suited to the continent’s conditions.
The initiative also comes as African governments increasingly recognise that digital transformation will influence competitiveness across virtually every major sector of the economy.
From manufacturing and financial services to education, healthcare and agriculture, access to digital infrastructure is becoming increasingly important to economic development.
The Korea-Africa partnership therefore represents more than a technology agreement. It forms part of a broader effort to connect investment, skills, infrastructure and innovation to Africa’s development priorities.
As implementation progresses, the effectiveness of these initiatives will depend on sustained financing, strong institutions, reliable infrastructure and the ability to translate technology into practical economic and social benefits.
For a continent with a young population and expanding digital economies, the opportunity is significant. The challenge now is to ensure that Africa has the infrastructure, skills and investment needed to shape its own AI future.
