KOICA marks 30 years in Nepal with USD 29 million grant agreement

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Aug. 24: The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) celebrated three decades of development partnership in Nepal with a commemorative event titled “Together for 30 Years: A Journey of Trust and Cooperation” in Kathmandu on Friday.

Marking the milestone, KOICA signed three significant project agreements worth USD 29 million grant with the government of Nepal, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the country’s inclusive and sustainable development.

According to a press statement from the KOICA Office in Kathmandu, the first agreement includes the establishment of the Gandaki Institute of Technology, a project worth USD 9 million, to be implemented between 2025 and 2030. 

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Ghanshyam Upadhyaya, Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, and Park Tae-Young, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nepal.

Likewise, the Value Chain Development Project (Phase II) in Lumbini Province, with the budget of USD 10 million to be initiated from 2025 to 2031 has been signed.

This was signed by Dr. Hari Bahadur K.C., Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and Mooheon Kong, KOICA’s Country Director.

The third agreement was for the establishment of the Sudurpaschim Polytechnic Institute, with the amount of USD 10 million, to be executed between 2025 and 2030. 

Shiva Kumar Sapkota, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and KOICA Country Director Kong have signed the deal.

On the occasion, Kong emphasised KOICA’s enduring partnership with Nepal and its unwavering commitment to inclusive and sustainable development. 

He highlighted the agency’s focus on supporting local capacity building and fostering innovation across key sectors such as education, health, agriculture, and governance.

The Joint Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bhrigu Dhungana expressed appreciation for KOICA’s role in strengthening bilateral relations and supporting Nepal’s sustainable development goals.

Park Tae-young, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nepal, noted that KOICA’s 30-year journey in Nepal reflects the deep-rooted friendship and mutual trust between the two nations. 

He emphasised Korea’s continued commitment to supporting Nepal’s socio-economic development and highlighted the new project agreements as a symbol of shared progress and future cooperation.

Dhana Raj Acharya, Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City, commended KOICA’s strategic alignment with Nepal’s national development goals and reaffirmed the government of Nepal’s readiness to work closely with KOICA to expand the reach and sustainability of future programmes.

As KOICA reflects on three decades of its development engagement in Nepal, it renews its commitment to building a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous future in close partnership with the Government of Nepal and local communities.

Since 1991, the government of the Republic of Korea, through KOICA, has been a key development partner of Nepal, supporting various sectors such as health, education, agriculture, vocational training, rural development, IT, and tourism. KOICA has dispatched 2,921 volunteers to government institutions across the country. 

Since Nepal was designated a priority country for KOICA in 2010, support has significantly increased, and by 2025, KOICA’s total assistance surpassed USD 200 million.