Afghan officials here to learn development plans

Afghan officials look around an agricultural technology center in Gunwi County, North Gyeongsang Province, June 12. / Courtesy of KOICA

By Shim Jae-yun

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), jointly with The Korea Institute for Development Strategy (KDS), is conducting a program to educate Afghan officials on planning economic development.

The joint fellowship program with the United Nations Development Programme is for 14 Afghan officials in charge of rural development, and financial and economic policies. It will last 21 days from June 15 to July 5.

“This is part of the Korean government’s grant aid and technical cooperation program to facilitate Afghanistan in its bid to develop an economic strategy,” said Chae Moon-joo of KOICA.

The program is designed to provide Afghan officials with an opportunity to examine and evaluate Korea’s economic development planning as well as Seoul’s experience of and strategies for national development.

It includes a workshop through which Afghan officials can share opinions and foster approaches for national development and respond to pending issues as well as current challenges.

“The program will help further boost cooperative relations between Afghanistan and Korea,” said the official.

Lectures will cover issues such as government efficiency, public enterprise management and privatization, promotion of foreign direct investment and economic zones, as well as a domestic resources mobilization strategy.

Due to a war that lasted the last two decades, Afghanistan has suffered devastating damage to its infrastructure alongside a loss of its labor force and capital. Its government budget depends mostly on assistance from overseas because the underground economy accounts for more than 80 percent of the total gross domestic product.

Azizuddin Ahmadzada, director in charge of Asian affairs at the Afghan Foreign Ministry, said, “We urgently need education for mobilization, management and implementation of budgets for the reconstruction of the Afghan economy. We expect to learn much from Korea’s successful economic development.”

The officials will have chances to visit Central Officials Training Institute, POSCO, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Motors as well as cultural sites such as Gyeongbok Palace.

KOICA has conducted similar programs for officials from developing countries including Vietnam and China.