Sunday 22 Dec
Chang Won-sam, President of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), is going to visit Egypt from November 20 to 22 to strengthen bilateral cooperation and maximize the benefits of official development assistance programs in various sectors.
This is the first visit by a KOICA president to Egypt since the partnership began. Prior to his visit, he is participating in the 29th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP29) in Azerbaijan, where KOICA, as an accredited entity of the Green Climate Fund, will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the UNFCCC on November 19 to launch two major climate change projects.
During his visit, Chang will
engage in a series of high-level meetings with key Egyptian officials. These
include Dr. Moustafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of
Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, and Ahmed Kouchouk,
Minister of Finance. The discussions will focus on strengthening bilateral
cooperation, reviewing recent developments, and exploring opportunities to
expand KOICA's activities in alignment with Egypt's Sustainable Development
Goals.
In addition to these meetings, Chang
will participate in a high-level seminar on Egypt's electronic government
procurement system, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and
the General Authority for Government Services. This seminar aims to advance the
government's e-procurement policy, which is integral to achieving the goals of
"Egypt Vision 2030" and "Digital Egypt." He will also visit
the operations center for the electronic government procurement system at the
headquarters of the General Authority for Government Services next Thursday.
KOICA reaffirmed its commitment
to supporting Egypt's development initiatives and strengthening bilateral ties.
This visit underscores Egypt's strategic importance, particularly its
designation as a priority partner country for official development assistance
during 2021-2025—a unique distinction within the Middle East and North Africa
region.
The agency highlighted Egypt's
substantial potential, skilled young workforce, and strategic geographic
location as a hub for Korean businesses in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
As a government agency affiliated
with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, KOICA is dedicated to implementing aid
and grant programs that combat poverty and promote sustainable social and
economic growth in developing nations worldwide.
Established in 1998, the KOICA office in Egypt is dedicated to supporting various development initiatives. Its efforts include providing technical education for young people, aiding in the digitization of government services and systems, and implementing programs to combat gender-based violence, empower women, and assist vulnerable groups.
