Tanzanians learning about Korean gov't

Rheem Chae-ho, center in front row, president of Local Government Officials Development Institute (LOGODI), poses with Tanzanian delegates at the LOGODI headquarters in Sunwon, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. / Courtesy of LOGODI

By Shim Jae-yun

A group of Tanzanian officials is visiting Korea to learn about the nation’s local administration management system and its development over the past few decades.

The 15 delegates are attending a three-week program that started May 26, provided by the Local Government Officials Development Institute (LOGODI) under the wing of the Ministry of Security and Public Administration.

LOGODI mapped out the program with a focus on the Saemaul Movement and rural development, in consideration of the local situation in Tanzania.

The participants will attend lectures such as “Korean Economic Development at a Glance,” “Agricultural Development in Korea,” “Korea’s Saemaul Undong” and “Korean Regional Development.”

They also plan to visit Incheon International Airport Customs, Saha District Government in Busan, the Ministry of Security and Public Administration, Hyundai Motors and other industrial facilities.

To provide them with a cultural experience of Korea, LOGODI will also take them to Gyeongju, the capital city of the ancient Shilla Kingdom.

LOGODI has been carrying out this program since 2003, having educated 214 Tanzanian officials on nine courses. It also set up a course in the African nation for consulting by Korean experts and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Tanzania’s Local Government Training Institute (LGTI) for promotion of mutual education and training programs, in March 2012.

Tanzanian Prime Minister M. Pinda, during a meeting with a Korean LOGODI delegation in his country last year, said he expected the program to educate Tanzanian officials in Korea will continue so they can learn about the nation’s development process and advanced public administration system.

“As the delegation mostly comprises of officials from provincial governments, we expect to learn about the local administration system,” said Lucy Dennis Mzengi, chief delegate from the Prime Minister’s Office of Tanzania.

She expressed awe over the relatively short time needed for clearance at the airport and the peaceful atmosphere here despite her earlier concern over public security risks due to possible conflict with North Korea.

LOGODI President Rheem Chae-ho expressed his hope that the ongoing education will help the Tanzanian officials contribute to the development of their country.

“We plan to continue to expand such education programs. The government has been pursuing ‘safe society, able government and mature local autonomy’ which I hope will spread globally riding on the hallyu (Korean wave),” Rheem said.

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is also working together with the LGTI to promote the program.