Cambodia, Assistance from KOICA

Cambodia

Assistance from KOICA

Outline

Cambodia is regarded as a heavily indebted poor country (HIPC). KOICA’s assistance to Cambodia began with small-scale humanitarian aid programs, mostly in the form of equipment provisions. The total volume of KOICA’s grant aid to Cambodia between 1991 and 1999 was a mere $2.7 million. However, the figure started growing dramatically after Korea and Cambodia normalized diplomatic relations in 1997. From 2000 to 2004, KOICA’s annual aid commitment to Cambodia rose to $1.8 million, making the aggregate total from 1991 to 2004 $11.8 million. It is also notable that since 2001, Cambodia has been one of the largest recipients of aid from KOICA.

 

 

Assistance in 2004

 

In 2004, a total of 108 trainees had been invited to attend 51 programs, including administrative information management, IT development policy, Korean language, and IT internships. These programs contributed to cultivating talented individuals and improving the economic and social development of Cambodia.

 

 

Horticulturist Kim Jae-young, who was affiliated with the Korean Rural Development Administration, was dispatched to the Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute from September 1, 2004 to August 31, 2005. He successfully completed his mission by transferring vital horticulture technology, and contributing to the development of Cambodia’s horticulture industry.

 

 

Kim Jong-wook, an expert in rural development, of the Korea Agricultural and Rural Infrastructure Corporation (KARICO) was dispatched to Cambodia’s Agricultural Development Department on November, 22, 2004 for one-year. Through close coordination with KOICA’s team-based volunteers, he provided his Cambodian counterparts with useful advice regarding rural community development.

 

 

Professor Kang Ki-won of Seo-won University, who specializes in economic development, was dispatched to the Office of the Council of Ministers of Cambodia to give advice not only on economics but also on agriculture and trade. He helped to draw up economic and development strategies.

 

 

Dr. Park Young-Geun, a Korean practitioner of oriental medicine, has been heading the Korea-Cambodia Goodwill Hospital in Kossamak since August 10, 2001. In an effort to revive traditional Cambodian medicine, he moved to the National Traditional Medical Institute on May 18, 2004 and has since given free medical services to about 10,000 patients per year and also conducted medical research regarding the development and revival of Cambodian traditional medicine.

 

 

Taekwondo instructor Choi Yong-seuk, who was dispatched to Cambodia on December 11, 1996, served as the coach of the Cambodian national team at the Cambodian Taekwondo Federation. He taught Taekwondo to trainers and candidates for police officers at the National Police University. Through these efforts, Master Choi contributed to boosting Taekwondo popularity in Cambodia.

 

 

In an effort to transfer Korean experience in rural community development to impoverished rural areas of Cambodia, 18 team-based volunteers were dispatched to Cambodia. Their aim was to improve the living environments and increase the incomes of residents of four model villages in three areas.

 

 

Korean overseas volunteers (KOVs) implemented various rural development projects tailored to local conditions and needs. Major projects conducted by KOVs include an irrigation canal, potable water supply, a model farm for growing vegetables, increased compost, an animal hospital, pig farming, transferring technology in stock raising, building cooperatives, and holding evening classes.

 

 

Because of the long-standing civil wars and destructive policies of the Khmer Rouge, geodetic data and land registration records almost disappeared in Cambodia. To help the Cambodian government with land management and development, KOICA launched a project which included the drawing up of a national map, the development of social overhead capital, and the installation of geodetic control points, which are required for land development and urban planning.

 

 

The target area in Kampong Chhnang is in the mid-western region of Cambodia just 90 Kilometers away from Phnom Penh. KOICA helped to install geodetic control points in the region and to conduct technology education programs.

 

 

The project’s goal was to establish a system of land ownership in Cambodia as a way of resolving conflicts over ownership, increasing government revenues, and improving the country’s market economy.

 

 

The obsolete and damaged irrigation facilities in the Krang Ponley river basin was failing to meet the needs of the local population. KOICA launched a feasibility study to enhance stable water and hydro-electric energy supplies and to reduce the damage caused by flooding through maintenance and installation projects.

 

 

In accordance with the Cambodian government’s poverty reduction policy, KOICA has carried out the project for the development of the northwestern region of Phnom Penh since early 2003. As the project is expected to contribute to the economic development of the capital city of Phnom Penh, KOICA is actively seeking to finance the project through the EDCF (Economic Development Cooperation Fund).

 

 

The worn-out irrigation facilities and floodgates of the Tamouk reservoir were on the verge of collapse. In 2003, KOICA launched a project to rehabilitate this dilapidated reservoir. The project is expected to help raise the incomes of 10,000 neighboring farmers, control flooding, and secure a supply of water for 100,000 residents living on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

 

 

In line with the regional economic integration illustrated by the ASEAN free-trade zone, the ASEAN investment zone, and freer services trade, KOICA launched a project for the improvement of Cambodia’s trade capacity and systems. The project is expected to help the Cambodian government better understand the goods and services sector while they prepare for WTO membership.

 

 

Future Direction

 

Given that Cambodia is one of the least developed countries and that its per capita GDP stood at a meager $297, KOICA plans to concentrate on reducing poverty, building infrastructure, and strengthening technological capacity. KOICA will also take the focusing strategy to raise the effectiveness of grants to the Cambodian government by concentrating aid on several designated areas.

 

 

 

Source from: www.koica.go.kr