KOICA Holds the 2nd Consultation Meeting: KOV’s Mission Is Increasing (English Version)

Translation from local newspaper

Raksmei Kampuchea Daily Newspaper

Year 17, volume 5055, Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Contact: 023 224605

KOICA Holds the 2^nd Consultation Meeting: KOV’s Mission Is Increasing

Phnom Penh: Korea Internal Cooperation Agency (KOICA) organized a one-day Consultation Meeting on Korea Overseas Volunteers Program in Cambodia at Imperial Garden Villa and Hotel on November 19, 2009.

Ms. Jung Jung Won, volunteer coordinator and the meeting organizer, there are 58 participations who are representatives of host organizations under 6 ministries: ministry of education, youth and sport; ministry of labor and vocational training; ministry of health, ministry of rural development; ministry of tourism; and ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries from 16 provinces and cities.

She added that, supported by KOICA, this meeting is part of the request from government institutions that are hosting KOVs so that they can use this opportunity to share their best practice working with KOVs and moreover, KOICA and those host organization can sit together and discuss about how to strengthen the cooperation and to extend KOV activities with the efficient and sustainable way in Cambodia

Mr. Kim Byung-gwan told the participants that Cambodia began to gets KOVs in 2003, 12 years after KOICA headquarter began to send KOVs to partner countries around the world. However, only 6 year, KOV’s mission in Cambodia has been growing very fast and is bigger than some countries that get the volunteer before Cambodia. The number of KOV who are working in the prioritized sectors for the development of Cambodia is increasing with the average of 70 active KOV a year and mostly at provinces. In 2010, there will be 90 active KOV in Cambodia.

Mr. Kim added that the Republic of Korea, even though affected by world economic crisis, will try to maintain significant support to Cambodian people. He believe that recent state visit of Korean president Lee Myung Bak will bring more support to Cambodia and as the result, extend KOV activities in Cambodia.