Exchange of Knowledge and Skills - KOICA Alumni Association Pakistan Hosts Annual Reception and a Seminar

The KOICA Alumni Association Pakistan (KAAP), a key player in promoting the exchange of knowledge and skills, hosted its 2024 Annual Reception and Knowledge Sharing Seminar in Islamabad on October 1st. KOICA, the Korea International Cooperation Agency, sponsored the event, which reflected this organization's efforts to strengthen ties between South Korea and Pakistan.

The KOICA organizational mandate is "Contributing to the advancement of international cooperation through various cooperative projects to promote friendly and cooperative relationships and mutual exchanges between Republic of Korea and developing countries and achieve poverty reduction, improvement of the quality of life, sustainable development, and humanitarianism of developing countries."

The reception brought together dignitaries, including H.E. Park Ki-jun, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, and Mr. Yeon Je-ho, Country Director of the KOICA Pakistan Office. Pakistani officials, including Special Secretary of the Economic Affairs Division Muhammad Humair Karim and Joint Secretary Sajid Manzoor, were also in attendance. In his remarks, Ambassador Park emphasized the importance of knowledge exchange in fostering sustainable development, saying, "The development cooperation partnership between Korea and Pakistan will be further strengthened through the dissemination of knowledge and skills between our two countries."

The seminar featured presentations from two KOICA trainees who shared insights on critical issues facing Pakistan. One discussed agricultural productivity as a path to improving nutrition and food security, while the other explored economic development strategies and policy recommendations for Pakistan. Both presentations highlighted the vital role of expertise gained through KOICA programs in addressing key challenges in Pakistan's development.

Since its inception, KOICA has trained over 1,800 Pakistani professionals, playing a pivotal role in the development cooperation between South Korea and Pakistan. As KOICA Pakistan emphasizes, the knowledge and skills exchanged through these programs are not just a means of progress, but a beacon of hope for both countries. They will continue to drive progress, fostering a partnership rooted in mutual growth and shared prosperity.