South Korea is using potatoes as a means to boost diplomatic ties with Algeria.

South Korea established a potato farming institute in the African country in 2009 that teaches Algerian people how to cultivate and produce seed potatoes.

Algeria needs 210-thousand tons of seed potatoes a year and it has to import most of its crop.

The institute aims to capture a 30 percent share in the Algerian market for seed potatoes.

With the successful cultivation and production of seed potatoes, the Algerian government has begun to view South Korea as a partner.