1. The opening ceremony of the Korea-Africa Future Strategy Center will take place at 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., January 29. The purpose of the Center is to boost research on and exchanges with Africa, which is emerging as the last growth engine of the global community.

◦ The event will bring together 100-odd leading figures from both public and private sectors, including the government and academia. Among its participants will be Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and chief of the National Assembly's Forum for Africa's New Era Representative Lee Ju-young and Ambassadors from African countries to the Republic of Korea.

* The Center will help set mid- to long-term strategies toward Africa and bolster research function on the region; build 1.5-track (private-public) networks; and set up an integrated database on Africa.

- The Korea-Africa Exchange Association will be commissioned to operate the Center in 2015.

◦ The opening ceremony will feature an introduction to the Center; and congratulatory remarks by Foreign Minister Yun, Representative Lee and Moroccan Ambassador Mohammed Chraibi who serves as deputy head of the group of the African Ambassadors to the ROK.

2. The Korea-Africa Future Strategy Center, in close cooperation with the private sector and the government, will set concrete mid- to long-term strategies and visions for expanding the presence of ROK nationals and enterprises in Africa, and boost research on and exchanges with Africa. By doing so, it is expected to play a big role in expanding exchanges and deepening relations with the region. 


               Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

* unofficial translation