Lao, Korean officials discuss KSP results
Lao, Korean officials discuss KSP results
K orean and Lao researchers and officials from various sectors met in Vientiane to hear and discuss the results of a final report of Korea's Knowledge Sharing Programme (KSP) with Laos for 2014.
The KSP workshop took place yesterday and was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Dr Bounthavy Sisouphanthong, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Mr Kim Soo-Gwon, KSP Senior Advisor Mr Lee Chul Hwan, and KSP Manager Dr Yoon Suk Heun.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr Bounthavy said the ministry had implemented the project in recent years to exchange lessons on development with the Republic of Korea as well as to increase capacity in research and analysis for Lao institutions and researchers across various topics.
These included cooperation between government and private sectors in basic infrastructure development, fund raising, integration in the financial sector, small and medium enterprise development, industrial statistical system development, and emergency warning systems in the banking sector, he added.
Dr Bounthavy cited that the research and exchange had actively contributed to national socio-economic development, in particular increased the capacity of research and analysis on development of research institutes and working groups in the country.
In 2014, cooperation between Laos and the Republic of Korea under the framework of KSP was extended and opened opportunities for various sectors to participate, study and exchange lessons on various issues.
These included enhancing agricultural production, rural development and poverty reduction, building macroeconomic models for challenges faced, along with strengthening the regulation framework and policy initiatives to promote the life insurance sector in Laos.
He said rural development and poverty reduction as well as enhancing the effectiveness of agricultural production were Lao socio-economic development priorities to achieve millennium development goals (MDG) and escape from the least developed country list.
“Laos will be unable to achieve development goals without rural development and poverty reduction,” Dr Bounthavy noted.
“All five KSP topics covered between Laos and the Republic of Korea in 2014 that we heard and discussed today are very important to addressing current socio-economic development needs in the country,” he added.
KSP is a policy research and consultation programme which utilises Korea's knowledge and experiences accumulated throughout the development process to assist development partner countries.
