South Korean President Park Geun-hye plans to leave for Ethiopia later this month on a 12-day, four-nation trip to Africa and France with the aim of boosting bilateral ties, South Korea's presidential office said Thursday.

    The trip, which will also take Park to Uganda and Kenya, comes as South Korea is pushing its companies to explore business opportunities in foreign countries that could give a much-needed boost to Asia's fourth-largest economy, state-run (Yonhap) news agency reported.

    Africa has emerged as a continent of opportunity in recent years, though South Korea has yet to make a significant foray into these markets. The country's outbound shipments to Africa accounted for just 1.4% of its total exports last year, according to government data.

    The chief executive is set to meet with Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn during her trip to Addis Ababa from May 25 to 28 before holding two separate talks with Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

    In Ethiopia, Park is also scheduled to deliver a speech at the headquarters of the African Union and meet with African Union Commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Cheong Wa Dae said.

    The latest tour is also set to take Park to France for a state visit on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Source: QNA