Seoul: Investments in Africa will offer new and evolving business opportunities, as well as a chance to diversify and expand supply chains amid disruptions in major international trade routes, the top diplomat of Tunisia said. In a written interview with Yonhap News Agency, Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti also stressed that his country may offer a "strategic gateway" for South Korean businesses seeking access to African, European, and Middle Eastern markets.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Nafti highlighted Tunisia's position as a strategic launchpad, emphasizing the country's industrial maturity, improving infrastructure, and talented workforce. He pointed out that recent global crises, including instability surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, have amplified the need for South Korea to diversify supply chains and production in Africa. "The current geopolitical volatility and multifaceted global disruptions have underscored a fundamental reality: global supply chain diversification is no longer an option; it is an economic and security imperative," Nafti stated.
Nafti is among over 50 foreign ministers and senior diplomats from African nations scheduled to participate in the Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Seoul. The meeting will focus on joint responses to multiple global challenges and ways to boost cooperation for shared growth. His assessment comes as South Korea grapples with growing concerns over supply chain vulnerabilities and energy security risks amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Furthermore, Nafti emphasized Africa's increasing strategic importance, particularly in light of disruptions to traditional maritime routes, with shipping routes around the Cape of Good Hope gaining significance. He noted, "With global shipping increasingly forced to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, African ports and coastal infrastructure have reemerged as pivotal nodes for maintaining uninterrupted global commerce."
The minister also reiterated Tunisia's potential as a strategic gateway for Korean businesses, citing its advantageous geographical location and robust industrial base. Nafti, who served as Tunisia's ambassador to South Korea from 2013 to 2018, reflected on his time in Seoul as formative, shaping his views on Korea-Africa cooperation. He described his return to Seoul as a homecoming, acknowledging the dynamism and resilience of the Korean people.
Nafti praised South Korea's rapid economic development, suggesting that Korea's growth experience could serve as a significant model for Africa. He noted that African nations are increasingly seeking partnerships with South Korea focused on industrial development and technology transfer rather than resource extraction or traditional aid relationships.
He articulated that African nations expect South Korea to play a transformative role by contributing to the construction of processing plants, upgrading regional logistics infrastructure, and co-developing sustainable joint ventures and manufacturing investments. Nafti also highlighted South Korea's expertise in information and communications technology, artificial intelligence, and smart manufacturing as potential catalysts for Africa's industrial and digital transformation.
Drawing on his diplomatic experience in Seoul, Nafti emphasized the educational value of Korea's governance and institutional development experience for African countries. He underscored Korea's strengths in institutional capacity building, digital governance architectures, and educational models as areas where Africa can learn and benefit significantly.