S. Korea to hold ODA conference on AI for sustainable development

SEOUL, September 14 - The South Korean foreign ministry has announced plans to host an international conference on official development assistance (ODA) this week, with a specific focus on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in fostering inclusive and sustainable development.

Scheduled for Friday, the 19th Seoul ODA International Conference will be jointly organized by the ministry and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The conference will revolve around the theme "AI for Inclusive and Sustainable Development," according to the ministry.

Keynote speaker for the event will be Landry Signe, a senior fellow at the renowned Brookings Institution. The conference will comprise three sessions, each delving into a different aspect of AI in the context of development cooperation. These topics include AI and development cooperation, practical applications of AI in development efforts, and strategic partnerships between Korea and Central Asian countries focused on AI ODA.

The timing of the conference is strategic, coming shortly after the inaugural Korea-Central Asia summit, set to take place in Seoul on Wednesday. This provides an ideal platform to strengthen AI ODA collaboration with the five Central Asian nations, the ministry said in a statement.

To facilitate this, the KOICA will host the KOICA AI Partners Fair, a unique initiative that will bring together 10 South Korean companies. This event will offer these companies the chance to tap into the development cooperation market and forge connections with overseas partners.

The South Korean government has identified AI as a top priority for its ODA, recognizing the global digital and AI transformation as crucial for bridging the AI divide and promoting sustainable development worldwide.

Since its inception in 2007, the annual Seoul ODA International Conference has served as a prominent international forum for development cooperation, according to the ministry.