Korea
KOICA grants Master’s Scholarship to Bangladeshi govt, non-govt officials
Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in collaboration with the government of Bangladesh and NGO Affairs Bureau granted total 11 government and non-government officials master’s scholarship for 2021.
The Pre-Orientation on ‘KOICA’s Master’s Scholarship Programme 2021 and knowledge sharing webinar’ was held on Thursday virtually.
Young-Ah Doh, Country Director, KOICA Bangladesh Office along with the scholarship awardees, master’s alumni and KOICA’s partner organizations joined.
The event included introduction of KOICA’s Scholarship Program to the participants in attendance to avail the opportunity of studying in Korea that is fully sponsored by KOICA.
It also comprised of two knowledge sharing sessions presented by master’s alumni of 2019, whereby their first-hand experience gathered in Korea were highlighted.
KOICA’s Fellowship Program essentially aims to enhance human resource capacity of Bangladesh’s institutions and in turn contribute to its socio-economic development to achieve its 2041 vision.
This year, KOICA is offering total 9 programmes in Korea’s renowned universities, namely, Ewha Womans University, Hallym University, KAIST, Kyungpook National University, Korea National University of Education, Korea University, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul National University and Yonsei University, under which total 11 officials were selected after meeting the required eligibility criteria.
The sectors the candidates will major in include, gender, climate change, social economy, agriculture, finance, e-Government and public management, SDGs, etc.
Speaking on the occasion, KOICA’s Country Director said more than 90 Bangladeshi government officials have been awarded Master’s degrees from Korea till date.
She hoped the number increases in the coming years and the returnees are able to act as a bridge between Korea and Bangladesh to further strengthen its friendly ties.
Bangladesh joins Import Goods Fair-2021 in Seoul
The Embassy of Bangladesh in Seoul has participated in the 18th Import Goods Fair (IGF) held at the Convention and Exhibition Center (COEX) in Seoul.
Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) organizes the fair annually to showcase the new products imported from the partner countries.
Read CSR brings opportunities for businesses: Korean envoy
This year, Embassies from 40 countries joined the fair along with 22 companies from different countries. The fair ended on July 24.
Chairman of KOIMA Mr Hong Kwang-hee, and Director General of Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) Young-tae Choi inaugurated the IGF 2021 on 22 July in presence of the Ambassadors and representatives from the Embassies of the participating countries.
After the inauguration, Ambassador Abida Islam invited the Chairman of KOIMA, Director General of MOTIE, and other Ambassadors to the Bangladesh stall and presented them with traditional handicrafts.
Read S Korean envoy discusses investment opportunities in Bangladesh
During the fair, export items from Bangladesh, received with the complements of the Export Promotion Bureau, were displayed which includes RMG products, jute and leather products, ceramic items, and handicrafts like brass items and traditional dolls.
Korean businessmen showed their keen interest in the leather items and ceramic products of Bangladesh.
Organic food items from Fargo like mixed nuts, honey, moringa tea, and ghee (clarified butter) also attracted the dignitaries and visitors. Due to social distancing, the audience was comparatively less this year but around 100 visitors visited the Bangladesh stall during this three-day event.
Read Korean envoy seeks jabs for all foreign investors in Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Embassy continues to play a positive role in attracting Korean traders and buyers to Bangladeshi products by participating in this Fair which is playing a positive role in further strengthening bilateral trade and commercial relations between the two countries.
However, the participation of small and medium-size enterprises of Bangladesh in this fair in the future is expected to play a more effective role in furthering the bilateral trade relations between Bangladesh and Korea.
Read Bangladesh booth steals limelight at Seoul Int'l Tourism Fair 2021
KAERI signs deal with BAEC for renovation of 3 MW BAEC TRIGA Research Reactor
Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) signed a contract with Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) for the modernization of the 3 MW BAEC TRIGA Research Reactor (BTRR).
The contract-signing ceremony was held virtually on Thursday between KAERI and BAEC in presence of Dr. Md Sanowar Hossain, Chairman of BAEC, Dr. PARK Won-seok, President of KAERI, and Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun.
The project includes the design, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of digital I&C system of BTRR, which has been in operation since 1986. The duration of the project is expected to be 18 months.
The project became KAERI’s 6th major technology export related to research reactors, after its successful partnerships with Jordan, Greece, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Netherlands.
It is also anticipated to be the stepping stone for further collaboration between KAERI and BAEC, including future research reactor development in Bangladesh.
Ambassador Lee highlighted that the commencement of the project marks the beginning of the Korea-Bangladesh partnership in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and is opening a new chapter in the bilateral ties as the two countries move towards diversifying the areas of cooperation beyond the RMG sector.
He also noted that Korea, ranking 6th in the world in terms of the total capacity of nuclear power generation, is a world-leader in the peaceful use of nuclear energy from research to electricity production.
Fully committed to the international non-proliferation regime, Korea and Bangladesh will find further opportunities for cooperation in the future, he said.
Ambassador Lee looked forward to an early signing of the proposed MOU between KAERI and BAEC and a meaningful progress in the discussions between the governments for the conclusion of the bilateral agreement on peaceful nuclear cooperation.
Eye-care unit to open at Bangladesh-Korea Friendship Hospital this month
The operation of eye-care unit at Bangladesh-Korea Friendship Hospital (BKFH) in Savar begins this month.
South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun met Health Minster Zahid Maleque on Monday and informed him of the progress.
Read: Bangladesh’s single largest rooftop solar power plant inaugurated in Korean EPZ
He sought support of the Bangladesh government for the successful operation of the Hospital and its newly established eye-care unit.
The Korean Government, through KOICA, has established the Bangladesh-Korea Friendship Hospital in 1998 and handed over to the Bangladesh Government in 2008.
The Eye Health Promotion and Prevention of Blindness project was launched in 2014 with a total budget of 8.45 million US dollars, and a separate eye-care building was built in 2019 annexed to the BKFH.
Read: Korean envoy seeks jabs for all foreign investors in Bangladesh
Ambassador Lee also sought support of the Bangladesh Government for the vaccination of Korean nationals living in Bangladesh.
Earlier in March the Embassy sent the list of Korean nationals who wish to be vaccinated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but none of them has been vaccinated yet.
Ambassador Lee requested the Minister to facilitate Bangladesh’s cooperation with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), a Seoul-based international organization established in 1997 whose main function is to develop vaccines and deliver them to developing countries.
Read: Korea to provide $700 mn of EDCF loan to Bangladesh
Bangladesh is among the 36 signatories of the founding charter of IVI.
Korean Embassy honours content contest winners
Winners of the 'Contents Contest on Korea-Bangladesh Relations' were conferred with awards by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea at a ceremony held in Dhaka recently.
The awards ceremony at the Embassy in Dhaka was held marking the anniversary of Korea-Bangladesh diplomatic relations. The awards were to encourage Bangladeshi content creators who have contributed to promoting understanding between the two countries.
Read: South Korea suspends visas for Bangladeshis to curb Covid-19
Among a number of participants in the contest, Tanjina Haque bagged the first prize for presenting a comprehensive survey of the Korea-Bangladesh ties for almost 50 years with many pieces of relevant photos and records.
Other winners of the contest are Istinarah Surrat Nubah, Naimul Hasan, Reyad Hossain, MD Nuralam Mollah, Abdullah Al Mamun and Norul Isam. Some of the works presented by them have been uploaded on the Embassy's website, it's Facebook page and YouTube channel.
The history of the ties between the Republic of Korea and Bangladesh dates back to the early 1970s, particularly the 12th of May, 1972, when Korea officially recognised the independent government of Bangladesh, said the Embassy.
Thereafter, it said, the two countries established official diplomatic relations on December 18, 1973, and Korea opened its Embassy in Dhaka on March 1, 1975.
Read:S Korea provides US$ 1 mn to IOM to support Rohingyas affected in recent fire
This year marks the 48th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun shared an interesting story about the role of the former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during the initial period of the two countries’ relations at the 4th Bangabandhu Lecture Series held at the Bangladesh Foreign Service Academy on March 15, 2021.
Korea ranks 6th in providing FDI in Bangladesh
South Korea is a pioneer country to invest in Bangladesh and ranks 6th in providing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), according to the Bangladesh Embassy in Korea.
Mission in Seoul enters agreement with George Mason's Korea campus
The Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Seoul and the George Mason University Korea have signed a memorandum of cooperation.
Bangladesh-born migrant activist wins first Minu Memorial Award
Shekh al Mamun, a migrants' rights activist and movie director, has become the first winner of the Minu Memorial Award, recognising him for his years-long contribution to enhancing immigrant workers' rights in Korea.
The Minu Memorial Award was established by a group of supporters of Minod Moktan, the late migrant worker and activist from Nepal, to commemorate his death and remember his accomplishments. Minu was his Korean name.
Republic of Korea to celebrate its National Day virtually in Dhaka
The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Dhaka celebrate its National Foundation Day (Gae-Choen-Jeol) this year virtually which falls on October 3.
Bangladesh participates in 1st Asia Cultural Week-2019 Festival in Korea
Dhaka, Oct 28 (UNB) - The Embassy of Bangladesh, Seoul has participated in the ‘1st Asia Cultural Week 2019’ organised by Asia Culture Centre in Gwangju city, the cultural hub of Korea.