A group of ambassadors from the African continent will visit the southeastern industrial city of Gumi in North Gyeongsang Province next week to learn about Korea’s economic development model and see ways to apply it to their home countries, said local JoongAng Ilbo newspaper Saturday.

The 13 ambassadors include ones from Gabon, Kenya, Sudan and South Africa, it said.

Gumi is the origin of South Korea’s “New Countryside Movement” 40 years ago, which helped to transform the then mainly rural country to an industrial power house.

The top foreign envoys will be briefed by experts and will engage in discussions for brainstorming to see how Korea’s experience can be transplanted into their nation. They will also visit industrial complexes, run by Samsung and L.G., it said.

The program was initiated as an increasing number of African countries see South Korea as a model for economic and industrial development model.

South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world right after the 1950-53 Korean War, which ravaged the nation. Now, it stands as the world’s 15th largest economy.

“If the outcome is good, the government will consider sponsoring it next year as well and make it an annual event,” an official told the newspaper.