The Export-Import Bank of Korea (www.koreaexim.go.kr, Chairman Lee Duk-hoon, “Korea Eximbank”) announced that it is hosting a five-day ‘EDCF* Annual Workshop for Government Officials from Partner Countries’ beginning on June 23, inviting senior civil servants from developing countries and representatives of international financial institutions.
* The Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) was established by the Korean government in 1987 to promote economic exchanges with the developing world and to assist developing countries in achieving industrialization and economic stability through the provision of long-term, low-interest credit. Korea Eximbank currently manages the fund as its trustee.
A total of 15 delegates including senior civil servants from 13 countries worldwide and representatives from IDB (Inter-American Development Bank) attended the workshop to discuss some development issues of keen interest to developing countries such as urban development, energy and environment.
In particular, the workshop was joined by government officials from three African countries (Ghana, Mozambique, Tanzania) where the bank plans to open representative offices, and from Georgia which is set to become a new recipient of EDCF aid, all seeking to learn from Korea's development experience.
Since its launch in 1995, a total of 235 senior civil servants from 45 developing countries have attended the workshop.
The main sessions started with a lecture by Sung Keuk Je, a professor at Graduate School of International Studies of Kyung Hee University, themed "Korea's Economic Development Experience and Its Lessons," and was followed by lively debates on Korea’s economic development experience and its policy regarding economic cooperation with developing countries.
Particular focus was given to the topic of Korea's official development assistance (ODA) system, and the role of EDCF in facilitating economic development in developing countries.
The participants will return to their countries after visiting the Energy Recovery Facility in Sangam-dong, Seoul, Compact Smart City in Songdo-dong, Incheon, Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon, and National Museum of Korea ？ sites that embody Korea’s technological progress and historical heritage.
A Korea Eximbank official said, “Korea was once a war-torn nation but is now emerging as a leading member of the international community, having joined the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC), a club of major ODA donors. The EDCF workshop offers government officials of partner countries an opportunity to witness Korea's development history first-hand and to build strong personal networks with their Korean counterparts."
