- At the invitation of his counterpart from the Republic of Korea, Mr Jin PARK, Prof. Robert DUSSEY, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Togolese Abroad of the Togolese Republic paid a working visit to Seoul from March 22 to 25, 2023.
- The Togolese Republic and the Republic of Korea have established diplomatic relations since July 26, 1963. The visit of Minister Robert DUSSEY to Seoul reflects the desire of the two countries to revitalize, update and further deepen the relations of friendship and cooperation that unites them.
- During their work, the two parties took stock of their cooperation, both bilaterally and multilaterally. In this regard, Ministers DUSSEY and PARK welcomed the constantly increasing quality as well as the dynamism of cooperation between Togo and Korea. This cooperation has led to concrete achievements in several areas, including agriculture, health, education and training.
- At the bilateral level, they agreed to further deepen their cooperation and adapt it to the current context as well as to the priorities and sectoral strategies implemented in each of the two States, particularly at the economic level. To this end, they will initiate technical discussions with a view to signing an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and an agreement on the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments. The main objective of these two agreements is to facilitate investments and business partnerships between the Togolese and Korean private sectors.
- On this subject, Prof. DUSSEY presented to the officials as well as to the Korean economic operators he met the roadmap adopted by the Togolese government for the period 2020-2025, emphasizing the priority areas which could benefit from support or partnerships. from the Korean government or private sector. These are agriculture, agro-industrial processing, irrigation, adaptation to climate change, health, new information and communication technologies, industry, renewable energies, education and vocational training. He particularly insisted on Togo’s desire to strengthen its position as a logistics and service hub in the West African sub-region and on the investment opportunities offered by the Adéticopé Industrial Platform (PIA). The two parties will organize a Togo-Korea economic forum in Seoul in order to make these opportunities known to Korean economic operators and to facilitate contacts between the private sectors of the two countries.
- In the field of peace and security, the head of Togolese diplomacy provided his Korean counterpart with information on the terrorist attacks that Togo is facing in its northern region as well as on the efforts made by the government to prevent the establishment of jihadist groups on its territory. For his part, Minister PARK cited North Korea’s military activities as provocations and threats to peace on the Korean Peninsula.
- On the diplomatic level, the two parties have agreed to facilitate and increase high-level contacts and to set up an adequate consultation framework.
- Addressing regional issues, the two ministers expressed their concern over the persistence and expansion of terrorism, violent extremism, maritime piracy and other forms of criminality in West Africa and the Sahara. , underlining the harmful effects of these phenomena on the stability and development of the sub-region. They also discussed the ongoing political transitions in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali. Minister DUSSEY recalled Togo’s efforts to contribute to the restoration of peace and security in the sub-region and to find concerted and happy outcomes to the ongoing transition processes in the countries concerned.
- Minister Jin PARK took this opportunity to congratulate, on behalf of the Korean government, the President of the Togolese Republic, H.E. Mr. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, for his leadership and his commitment to peace and stability in Africa.
- With regard to global issues, the two ministers reiterated their respective countries’ commitment to international peace and security as well as their readiness to collaborate on these issues, both bilaterally and within international organizations, in particular, United Nations.
- As part of this visit, Minister DUSSEY also exchanged with the presidents of the Korea Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Korea Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), the Korea- Africa as well as with representatives of various Korean companies. He also visited the city of Busan where he had working sessions with the mayor of the city.
- At the end of his stay on Korean soil, Minister Robert DUSSEY, through his counterpart, addressed his sincere thanks to the people and to the Korean government for the warm and friendly welcome as well as for the quality of the hospitality which have been reserved himself and his delegation.
- In order to deepen the discussions on the issues raised, he invited Minister Jin PARK to pay an upcoming visit to Lomé. The Korean minister has accepted this invitation, the date of which will be mutually agreed.
Done in Seoul, March 25, 2023