In partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), South Korea is ready to step up technology transfers to Africa, officials said in Seoul.

Representatives of Busan Metropolitan City, Busan Techno Park, and Korea's Green Technology Centre said there was huge potential for cooperation and "immense opportunities for job-creating bankable projects."

The representatives singled out specific areas of opportunity including agriculture and green growth, smart urban transportation management.

Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the AfDB, said: "The future is going to be an exponentially different future," and that the Bank intends to "explore the creation of a strategic partnership with Korea that could lead to the creation of a Korea-Africa research and training Drone Centre, that could help pave the way for Africa's 4th industrial revolution."

According to Hyung-Ju Kim, Director, Global Strategy Division, Green Technology Centre, "Korean expertise can provide a practical and pragmatic solution to a wide range of Africa's most pressing technology needs: The African Development Bank could play a major role here: if we bring technology to the table, the Bank can identify and facilitate bankable projects that can boost technology cooperation between Africa and Korea."

Drone project

With funding from the Korea-Africa Cooperation (KOAFEC) fund, the AfDB, in cooperation with Busan Metropolitan City, and the Busan Techno Park, has launched a pilot project in Tunisia using drone technology to develop agriculture.

According to information supplied, this includes data collection and analysis, monitoring irrigated perimeters, aquifers, the effects of climate change, land degradation, biodiversity, filling and siltation of dams, and overall agricultural production.

Korea and the AfDB intend to extend the program to other countries and regions in Tunisia and Africa.

Adesina added, "We are determined to expand the use of drones in agriculture in Africa. What we do in Africa today, will determine global food security tomorrow."

For the AfDB President it is important that the technological partnership with Korea translates into capacity building on the ground, through training, so that Africa can industrialise, build or assemble drones.