KOICA Marks 30 Years in Nepal with $29 Million Grant Agreement

EDUCAST, 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.

The highlight of the celebration was the signing of three major project agreements that underscore KOICA’s strategic focus for the coming years. The first was a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Mr. Ghanshyam Upadhyaya, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, and H.E. Park Tae-Young, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nepal, for the establishment of the Gandaki Institute of Technology, a USD 9 million project to be implemented from 2025 to 2030.

Two additional Record of Discussion signings followed. The first was for the Value Chain Development Project (Phase II) in Lumbini Province, with a budget of USD 10 million, scheduled to begin in 2025 and conclude in 2031. It was signed by Dr. Hari Bahadur K.C., Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and Mr. Mooheon Kong, KOICA Country Director. The second was for the Establishment of the Sudurpaschim Polytechnic Institute, also budgeted at USD 10 million, signed between Mr. Shiva Kumar Sapkota, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, and Mr. Mooheon Kong, with implementation set from 2025 to 2030.

Addressing the event, Mr. Mooheon Kong highlighted KOICA’s enduring partnership with Nepal and its commitment to inclusive and sustainable development. He reiterated KOICA’s focus on capacity building and innovation in sectors such as education, health, agriculture, and governance.

Mr. Bhrigu Dhungana, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, acknowledged KOICA’s significant contributions over the years in promoting education, health, agriculture, and capacity building, and expressed Nepal’s commitment to deepening this partnership further.

H.E. Park Tae-Young emphasized that KOICA’s 30-year journey reflects the trust and friendship between Nepal and Korea. He noted Korea’s continued commitment to Nepal’s socio-economic development and highlighted the newly signed agreements as symbols of shared progress.

Chief Guest Mr. Dhana Raj Acharya, Mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City, congratulated KOICA on its milestone anniversary and commended its contributions aligned with Nepal’s national development goals.

Since 1991, KOICA has been one of Nepal’s key development partners, supporting projects in health, education, agriculture, vocational training, IT, rural development, and tourism. Over the past three decades, KOICA has dispatched 2,921 volunteers to Nepal and facilitated training for over 2,230 Nepalese officials through fellowship programs. With Nepal designated as a priority country since 2010, KOICA’s assistance has now surpassed USD 200 million by 2025, strengthening bilateral cooperation for a more inclusive and resilient future.

For more information:

KOICA Nepal Office, Jwagal, Lalitpur

Tel: +977 1 5269860 / 5268718

Website: www.koica.go.kr