Zambia: Zambia and South Korea have pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation through the National Decentralization Policy to enhance rural development and improve the livelihoods of local communities.
This came to light when Ambassador-Designate of the Republic of South Korea to the Republic of Zambia, Park Je-kyung, paid a courtesy call on Minister of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) Gary Nkombo, MP, at MLGRD recently to discuss various issues of bilateral cooperation between the two Countries.
Park stated that his Country is willing to offer financial and technical support to help accelerate the Zambian Government’s efforts to implement more development projects in rural communities, taking advantage of Zambia’s political stability.
The Ambassador said this is because South Korea has enjoyed cordial relations with Zambia for many years and is eager to increase its volume of bilateral assistance.
He further said his Country will share more development ideas focused on rolling out new investments in Zambia, targeting areas to promote mechanised agriculture projects and infrastructure development in rural communities.
Park also said the two countries could utilize the Saemaul Undong (SMU), which is a South Korean strategy aimed at accelerating the development in communities, especially in rural areas of that Country, which Zambia also seeks to replicate and localize, in an effort to improve community development.
Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of the Government, Nkombo informed the Ambassador that Zambia is ready to strengthen more bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the globe in an effort to accelerate the delivery of more meaningful development to rural communities.
The Minister implored Korean investors to take advantage of Zambia’s favourable investment climate and invest in various sectors, such as agriculture, which has over one million hectares of arable land for farming activities.
Moreover, residents are happy with the collaboration and the South Korean government are already doing a lot for the government of Zambia. On 25th January, they held a ceremony in which they handed over the motor vehicles.
The Republic of Zambia and the Republic of Korea share excellent bilateral relations and cooperation.