BY RON CHEN, Correspondent ASEAN Region
The 6th meeting of the Korea-Nigeria Joint Commission was held on October 14, 2021 in Seoul with H.E. Vice Minister of the ROK, Choi Jong Kun, and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Zubairu Dada as the head delegates.
During the Joint Commission meeting, the two sides reviewed the progress on the major issues between the two countries which were discussed during Vice Minister Choi’s recent visit to Nigeria last August and extensively discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral relations in such areas as economy and development, culture and consular service and international cooperation.
Both sides shared the view that there is great potential for further economic cooperation considering the recent increasing trends of the trade volume between the two countries and with the official commencement of the African Continental Free Trade Area as of this year. In line with this, both sides agreed to work to establish institutional foundations such as ratification of the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement to further expand economic cooperation.
Both sides also agreed to work together for the conclusion of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) to promote people-to-people exchanges and economic activities between the two countries.
Besides, both sides shared the view that there is great potential for further cooperation in the areas of culture, tourism and education and discussed the signing of bilateral agreements and Memorandum Of Understandings (MOUs) in the respective areas.
Both sides shared concern on the recent increase in piracy incidents in the Gulf of Guinea and agreed to work together to strengthen maritime security in the region.
This Joint Commission meeting was the first-ever face-to-face Joint Commission meeting with an African country since the COVID-19 pandemic and a follow-up meeting which took place only 2 months after the first visit of Korean Vice Foreign Minister to Nigeria last August. The meeting served as a useful opportunity to level up the bilateral relations with Nigeria, a key country for economic cooperation with the largest share of projects of Korean construction companies in sub-Saharan Africa.
