Prime Minister Han's Africa Trip, Meeting with Mozambique President "Strengthening Strategic Mineral Cooperation"

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is taking a commemorative photo before meeting with Filipe Nyusi, President of Mozambique, at the Presidential Palace of Mozambique on the 30th (local time). Photo by the Office of the Prime Minister

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Kim Hyewon] Following his visit to France, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, currently touring two African countries, met with Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi on the 30th of last month (local time) to discuss energy and resource cooperation between the two countries, the Prime Minister's Office announced on the 1st.

At the presidential palace, Prime Minister Han explained the South Korean government's policy to strengthen cooperation with Africa and the plan to hold the 2024 Korea-Africa Special Summit. He also emphasized that South Korean companies such as Korea Gas Corporation and Samsung Heavy Industries are involved in various stages of the natural gas development project in northern Mozambique, including exploration, development, and production.

Prime Minister Han stated, "Since Korean companies have built all four of the world's large floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) vessels, Korea is the best cooperation partner in this field," and added, "We hope our companies will continue to participate in Mozambique's gas development." Korea Gas Corporation holds a 10% stake in the development project of Block 4 in the northern Mozambique gas field. Samsung Heavy Industries secured a $2.5 billion (approximately 3.3 trillion KRW) FLNG platform construction project in 2017.

Mozambique is the second-largest natural gas holder in Africa and is rich in strategic minerals necessary for electric vehicle battery production, such as graphite (5th in the world), titanium (8th), and zirconium (4th). President Nyusi responded, "Korea's assistance has been very significant in Mozambique's emergence as a major natural gas producer," and expressed hope that energy cooperation with Korea would further expand. Both sides agreed to explore cooperation plans in Mozambique's strategic minerals sector and to expand institutional foundations for revitalizing economic cooperation, including the promotion of an investment protection agreement.

Regarding Mozambique's role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2023-2024, Prime Minister Han evaluated that "Mozambique has taken on a major role in international security issues." The Prime Minister's Office explained that a consensus was reached on the need for the international community to jointly respond to North Korea's illegal provocations. The Prime Minister's Office self-assessed, "Prime Minister Han's visit to Africa is the first practical step following President Yoon Seok-yeol's announcement of the policy to strengthen cooperation with Africa on the 23rd of last month."

In the evening, Prime Minister Han held talks and an official dinner with Mozambique Prime Minister Adriano Maleiane. Both sides agreed on the necessity of creating direct cooperation channels for private economic actors and reached a consensus to promote regular exchanges between the two countries' chambers of commerce. They also agreed to contribute to the development of bilateral relations by opening the Embassy of Mozambique in South Korea next year, marking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

On the morning of the following day, the 1st, Prime Minister Han held a meeting with the Mozambican diaspora and business representatives, visited the Matola Industrial School, and then headed to his next destination, Ghana.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.