KOICA office head: Volunteers contribute to development of friendly ties between Uzbekistan and South Korea

A seminar of heads and representatives of Uzbekistan on voluntary programme of the KOICA was held in Tashkent on 8 November 2013.

Representatives of ministries and departments, as well as educational institutions of Uzbekistan participated in the work of the seminar.

At the seminar, representatives of about 40 organizations, which attracted volunteers from KOICA, discussed work of volunteers and exchanged opinion on improving volunteers work.

Voluntary movement of Korea received a development with the creation of KOICA. The agency provides no-string aid to developing countries on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Korea.

The Koran volunteers work under World Friends Korea brand in 34 countries of the world. The volunteers share experience of South Korea in these countries.

According to KOICA, the first Korean volunteers arrived in Uzbekistan after two countries signed a corresponding agreement. Some 10 people were dispatched to Uzbekistan in 1995 and now about 70 volunteers work from Andijan to Nukus.

Opening the event, Lee Keng-Sang said that the first group of volunteers arrived in Uzbekistan in 1995. During this time, about 412 volunteers worked in various state bodies, contributing to development of friendly relations between two nations.”

He said that KOICA helps to improve healthcare in Uzbekistan through implementation of volunteer projects in medicine. He said that the KOICA provides IT volunteers on request of the Government of Uzbekistan to prepare specialists, necessary to development of industrial sectors.

Lee Keng-Sang said that based on KOICA projects and attraction of the grant of the Korean Government, electronic library with the cost of about US$2 million were created at Tashkent State Pedagogic University named after Nizami and Tashkent State Oriental Studies Institute.

He said that KOICA is trying to dispatch volunteers, specializing in economy, technologies and other directions, assisting Uzbekistan to solve problems with employment and training high skilled specialists. He said KOICA has been helping to economic and social development of Uzbekistan.

Head of the office of the KOICA office in Uzbekistan said that there is high demand in studying Korean language and the volunteers help to teach language and familiarize with the Korean culture to promote understanding between two nations. The volunteers also are familiarizing with culture and people of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan is on the fourth place on number of people, studying Korean language, after Thailand, Japan and the United States. The Korean language is teached in schools, colleges and universities across Uzbekistan.

Lee Keng-Sang underlined that KOICA will continue its efforts in implementation of projects on cooperation to assist economic and social development of Uzbekistan.

It is worth to mention that the Korea International Cooperation Agency provided no-string aid to Uzbekistan worth US$100 million.