S. Korea plans to provide economic consulting to developing countries

economic success-sharing


SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to offer around 4 billion won
(US$3.4 million) to provide developing countries with comprehensive economic
consulting services in 2010, the government said Wednesday.

The Ministry of Strategy and Finance said the move is part of the Knowledge
Sharing Program (KSP) that aims to highlight how South Korea rose from a war-torn
agrarian economy to one of the top 15 industrialized leaders in less than 60
years.
"About four countries are expected to receive extensive help through the KSP
scheme," an official said, adding Indonesia, Cambodia, Uzbekistan and Vietnam
could benefit from the program in the new year.
"The countries have agreed to take part in the program at the working level
although it has not been officially announced," the official said.
In 2009, when the service was launched, only Vietnam received assistance.
Seoul has earmarked around 1 billion won each for those countries to hire up to
15 researchers, consultants and analysts who can assess overall their economic
conditions and potentials and help plot individualized courses.
The support team will be made up of so-called "star consultants" with extensive
government and corporate experience along with those who have worked for
international organizations.
The ministry also said that another seven countries will receive industry or
sector-specific consulting support worth around 3.7 billion won.
South Korea has started offering sector specific consulting in 2004 and provided
the service to 134 projects in 15 countries.
KSP is part of Seoul's effort to help developing countries grow economically and
to fulfill its obligations as a member of the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development. The organization requires its members to offer
assistance to developing economies around the world.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)

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