KOICA was founded as a government agency on April1, 1991, to maximize
the effectiveness of Korea’s aid programs for developing countries by
implementing the government grant aid and technical cooperation programs.
In 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) and thereby committed the international community to
the task of halving the number of people living in absolute poverty by 2015.
The MDGs call for a global partnership to lift societies out of poverty and
create a better future for humanity.
Korea has succeeded from the misery and pain of poverty as it was
among one of the world’s most impoverished countries. It has overcome many of
the adversities and challenges that developing countries are struggling with
today. Commitment, sincerity, honesty, integrity and hard work were the key
elements for the development of Korea. Korea, an example of transforming to the
donor as well as an OECD member from a less developed country, could be a successful
case for our developing countries to follow.
I think the world is now facing both exciting challenges and great
opportunities in development cooperation. At this critical juncture, we should
extend our hands to make a poverty free world through dialogues and active
partnerships amongst developed and developing countries. Thus we can improve
our socioeconomic condition and proceed toward achieving the mission of KOICA
and many of us “Make a Better World Together”.
I strongly believe that the graduates of this Master Program have huge
potentials in them to contribute in developing their own countries by utilizing
knowledge of Korea.
Finally I call upon all to join hands together to make a happy world
through ensuring mutual cooperation and respect.