By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
As part of assistance to developing countries, Korea has started to build four rice-processing complexes (RPC) in the Philippines to help Filipino farmers, according to a local donor organization, Thursday.
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) said the facilities are expected to help the Southeast Asian country develop its agricultural industry.
``The RPCs under construction with support from the Korean government will help the Philippines to develop agriculture and reduce poverty,'' Kang Man-soo, a former finance minister and now special presidential advisor for economic affairs, was quoted as saying during the ground-breaking ceremony.
He noted that this year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Seoul and Manila.
About 500 Korean and Philippine officials and residents attended the ceremony.
The complex, equipped with the latest processors, was first introduced in the Aurora Province, about 230 kilometers from Manila, and processed rice of good quality ― labeled ``KOICA Rice.''
The grain was well-received by local customers and thus, the Philippine government asked for additional facilities, the KOICA said.
A KOICA official said that the construction of those facilities will help spread ``hallyu,'' or the Korean cultural wave in the areas.
The organization, an affiliation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has been making efforts to maximize the effectiveness of the nation's aid programs for developing countries. KOICA was founded in 1991.