Kathmandu, August 22
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) commemorated three decades of development partnership in Nepal with a commemorative event today in Kathmandu titled "Together for 30 Years: A Journey of Trust and Cooperation".
As KOICA reflects on its three decades of development work in Nepal, it renews its commitment to working closely with the government of Nepal and local communities to build a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous future.
The event's most significant activity was the signing of three large project agreements that establish KOICA's strategic priorities for the upcoming years. The first was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Ghanshyam Upadhyaya, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, and Park Tae-Young, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Embassy in Nepal, for the establishment of the Gandaki Institute of Technology, a USD 9 million project to be carried out between 2025 and 2030.
Following that, two new projects' Record of Discussion documents were signed. The USD 10 million Value Chain Development Project (Phase II) in Lumbini Province will run from 2025 to 2031 and was signed by Dr. Hari Bahadur K.C., Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and Mooheon Kong, Country Director of KOICA.
Similarly, Shiva Kumar Sapkota, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, and Mooheon Kong, Country Director of KOICA, signed an agreement to establish the Sudurpaschim Polytechnic Institute, which will cost USD 10 million and be operational between 2025 and 2030.
Mooheon Kong, KOICA Nepal Country Director, emphasised the organization's long-standing partnership with Nepal and its unwavering commitment to inclusive and sustainable development. He emphasised the agency's commitment to building local capacity and fostering innovation in key sectors such as education, health, agriculture, and governance.
Bhrigu Dhungana, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasised Nepal and the Republic of Korea's long-standing friendship and cooperation, as well as KOICA's invaluable contributions in education, health, agriculture, and capacity building.
He praised KOICA's role in strengthening bilateral relations and advancing Nepal's sustainable development goals. He also expressed the ministry's commitment to deepening this partnership in the future, with the goal of advancing Nepal's prosperity and resilience.
Park Tae-young, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nepal, stated that KOICA's 30-year presence in Nepal reflects the two countries' long-standing friendship and trust. He emphasised Korea's continued commitment to Nepal's socioeconomic development, citing the new project agreements as evidence of shared progress and future collaboration.
Dhana Raj Acharya, Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City and the event's Chief Guest, congratulated KOICA on its milestone anniversary and praised its significant contributions across multiple sectors. He lauded KOICA's strategic alignment with Nepal's national development goals and reiterated the Nepalese government's willingness to collaborate closely with KOICA to broaden the reach and sustainability of future programmes.
Since 1991, the Government of the Republic of Korea, through KOICA, has been a key development partner of Nepal, assisting in areas such as health, education, agriculture, vocational training, rural development, IT, and tourism. KOICA has sent 2,921 volunteers to government institutions throughout the country. Additionally, over 2,230 Nepalese officials have taken part in KOICA's fellowship programmes.
KOICA works with businesses, CSOs, universities, and international organisations to help Nepal achieve its SDGs. Since Nepal was designated a priority country by KOICA in 2010, support has increased significantly, and by 2025, KOICA's total assistance will exceed USD 200 million. This progress has been bolstered by a framework agreement on development cooperation, which cements the two countries' strong and growing friendship.
KOICA representatives and stakeholders from the GoN posing for photos during KOICA's 'Together for 30 Years: A Journey of Trust and Cooperation' event in Kathmandu on Friday.
