Azernews.Az

By Leman Mammadova

South Korea keeps on its support to Azerbaijan to improve the agrarian sphere and ensure further sustainable development in the country.

A meeting with a delegation of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) was held at the State Agro Trade Company on May 2 to study the Korean experience to improve the activity of the Company.

Korean guests got acquainted with the "From Village to City" shopping center within the framework of the same name project implemented by the Company. The stores sell both small and medium-sized farmers' products and supply the population with quality and natural products. The purpose of the project is to meet the increasing demand of the population in agricultural and food products, to increase consumer choice, and to prevent artificial price increase.

Then, KOICA representative In-Sik Nam made a presentation on the work done between the two organizations.

Later, KOICA Country Director Park Kumok and Director of the State Agro Trade Company Leyla Mammadova signed a protocol on cooperation. Mammadova said that as a result of the agreement reached with KOICA, Azerbaijan will have another international experience in the production of high-quality food and agricultural products.

“According to the agreement, it is planned to study Korean experience in food and agricultural products supply system, production, processing and distribution of food, safe and quality management of food supply systems in the country over the next three years,” said Mammadova.

She also added that the Korean experience will be studied and implemented to improve the e-procurement system. “Under the agreement, our staff will travel to South Korea and will study how this system works. Each year, ten people from our staff will participate in training in South Korea, while Korean specialists will regularly conduct informational and consulting activities in this area.”

The Korea International Cooperation Agency was founded as a government agency on April 1, 1991, to maximize the effectiveness of South Korea's grant aid programs for developing countries by implementing the government's grant aid and technical cooperation programs.

The assistance of KOICA to Azerbaijan started in 1994, and the KOICA Office in Azerbaijan was established in 2009. Since the beginning of cooperation, 11 grant projects have been successfully completed with total grant aid worth $49.28 million, and currently, 2 projects are being implemented.

Starting from 1994 over 700 Azerbaijani officials and government employees participated in the KOICA capacity building training programs aiming at sharing South Korea's development experience and technology transfer.

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Leman Mammadova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @leman_888

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