South Korea agrees to boost cooperation in agriculture, rural development – Pakistan

Pakistan and Republic of Korea on Tuesday signed new agreements to help develop cooperation on agriculture cooperation and rural development between the two countries.

As reported by Pakistan Today, the agreements were signed for new technical cooperation projects by Korea Programme on International Agriculture (KOPIA) Centre, Rural Development Administration (RDA), Ministry of National Food Security & Research (MNFSR) and Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC).

Republic of Korea Ambassador Suh Sangpyo oversaw the signing ceremony. From Korean side, KOPIA Director Cho Gyoungrae and from Pakistan side, the MNFSR secretary, PARC chairman, National Agriculture Research Centre (NARC) director general, PARC member (C&M), NARC director (CSI), NARC director (HRI), NARC director (AEI) and NARC director (PRMC) signed the agreements.

The technical cooperation projects include self-sufficiency of virus free potato seed multiplication by Aeroponic Technique, chilli production and post-harvest management technology development in Pakistan, and establishment of production technology of major fodder crops in Pakistan.

Recently, in related news, Pakistan reached out to South Korea in a bid to gain support and assistance in smartphone assembly and manufacturing. Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Syed Aminul Haque highlighted that Korea could invest in Pakistan as the atmosphere was conducive for foreign investment in the country. Both sides discussed matters of mutual interest and agreed to enhance cooperation in the field of IT and telecom.

Speaking on occasion, the Korean ambassador said that Seoul wanted to establish an information access centre in Pakistan. He praised the IT ministry’s efforts for the promotion of IT and telecommunication in the country.