In 1962 Korea needed markets in new countries for its nascent strategy of export-oriented industrialization. Diplomatic relations were the first step in that direction. Fifteen Latin American and Caribbean countries benefited from this drive, including mine, the Dominican Republic. Exporting to my region has contributed to Korea becoming the world’s sixth largest exporter and the 10th largest economy. It is now a leading source of quality products at affordable prices. Coherence is the o

The Chilean Embassy in Korea, the Korean Council on Latin America and the Caribbean, the Korean International Trade Association and Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs co-hosted a seminar on April 20 called “Chile and Korea 60 years looking to the future: bilateral relations from the perspectives of its protagonists” in a hybrid online and offline format. Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Chilean President Gabriel Boric and Korean

PERU EMBASSY RECEPTION -- Mayor of Lima, Jorge Munoz Wells, delivers a welcome speech at the Peru ambassador’s residence in Itaewon, Seoul, on April 19, during his visit to Seoul. Munoz Wells highlighted close relations, comprehensive strategic partnership, free trade agreements, modern smart city development, infrastructural projects and emerging areas of cooperation between Peru and Korea. (Sanjay Kumar/The Korea Herald)

In recent years, the authority and role of Uzbekistan, which under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, have been growing not only in the region, but also in the world; the country’s positive influence on the international dynamic has been increasing. It goes without saying that a vital role in this is played through active participation in the institutions of multilateral cooperation -- international and regional organizations. In this sense, Uzbekistan’s partnership with

Costa Rican Ambassador Alejandro Rodríguez Zamora sees several potential projects derived from Costa Rica’s “National Decarbonization Plan 2018-2050” that will open opportunities for Korean engineering, procurement and construction companies. The Costa Rican envoy highlighted that the plan includes the development of a mobility system based on renewable energy-driven public transport, construction of low-emission buildings, and an industrial transition to green energy.

Kazakhstan is ready to provide “maximum support” for large investment projects, tax exemptions, issuance of in-kind grants and solutions to infrastructure problems, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Korea said in an interview with The Korea Herald Sunday. A special working group aimed at expanding investment cooperation with Korean businesses and implementing joint projects, chaired by Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, has been set up, Bakyt Dyussenbayev sa

DOHA, Qatar -- The Korea Herald signed a memorandum of understanding with the Peninsula, an English-language daily newspaper published from Doha, Qatar, to enhance media cooperation between Korea and the Gulf region at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort and Convention Hotel in Doha on Sunday. Signed on the sidelines of 20th Doha Forum, the agreement is aimed at creating and exchanging journalistic content, boosting Korea-Qatar friendly relations and solidifying people-to-people contact by hosting e

Tashkent, Uzbekistan -- Uzbekistan vowed to become a middle-income country by 2030 at the Tashkent International Investment Forum at Tashkent City Congress Hall in Tashkent on Thursday. Addressing the plenary session of the forum, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev outlined important measures to attract investment and practical proposals open up the country’s business environment as of this year. “We aim to make Uzbekistan one of the world’s middle-income countries by 2030, sa

DOHA, QATAR -- High level officials, policymakers and academics discussed geopolitical alliances and international relations, the financial system and economic development, defense, cyber and food security, and climate change and sustainability hoping to transform new era through diplomacy, dialogue, diversity and multilateralism at Doha Forum through March 26-27. Started in the year 2000, Doha forum is aimed to launch dialogue on critical challenges facing the world, promote the exchange of id

   Tashkent, Uzbekistan -- Uzbekistan vowed to become a middle-income country by 2030 at the Tashkent International Investment Forum at Tashkent City Congress Hall in Tashkent on Thursday. Addressing the plenary session of the forum, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev outlined important measures to attract investment and practical proposals open up the country’s business environment as of this year. “We aim to make Uzbekistan one of the world’s middle-income countrie

Poland is committed to supporting humanitarian aid to Ukraine amid dramatic geopolitical and international security changes caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, said Poland’s Ambassador to Korea Piotr Ostaszewski in an email interview with The Korea Herald on Monday. Ostaszewski stressed that Poland is helping Ukraine on an enormous scale in the refugee crisis and has received over 2 million refugees from Ukraine. “No one is left without a help,” he said. According

ASEAN-Korea Center on Monday released the first clip in a series of videos on the ASEAN-Korea startup ecosystem. The 12 videos were produced in collaboration with the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and the ASEAN Secretariat. Two general session videos will feature presentations by Roh Yong-seok, director general for startup promotion policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups; and Le Quang Lan, director of Market Integration Directorate at the ASEAN Secret

Uzbekistan will host the Tashkent International Investment Forum from March 24-26, the Embassy of Uzbekistan said in a press release. The forum will focus on green energy, innovative industries, agriculture and digitization of the economy. According to the embassy, the forum is a new platform for the Central Asian region to show the investment potential of Uzbekistan for international investment and business communities. Citing Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade, the

Dynamism defines the Chile-Korea bilateral relationship, said Chile’s charges d`affaires ad interim in Korea, Gustavo Gonzalez, during an interview with The Korea Herald on Friday. Discussing the significance of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and 13 Latin American countries, Gonzalez said that Korea and Chile have comprehensive trade relations as well as high coincidence in areas such as clean energy, protection of the environment, human ri

Australia’s Victorian government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Korea Health Industry Development Institute to expand cooperation in mRNA vaccine research and manufacturing capabilities. Under the deal inked on March 11, both parties agreed to make joint efforts to explore potential research collaboration and investment opportunities that may lead to the development of RNA ecosystems in their respective jurisdictions. “Victoria has Australia’s largest biomedic

As an active member of the international community of freedom-loving democratic countries, Korea can contribute to ending Russian invasion of Ukraine by using its leverage with Russia, Ukraine’s top envoy to Seoul Dmytro Ponomarenko says. Speaking in an interview with The Korea Herald on Thursday, Ponomarenko said that Russia must immediately stop all military activities, the indiscriminate shelling of civilian targets and mass killings of civilians as prerequisite for a cease-fire. Com

The Bangladesh Embassy in Seoul on Monday observed the Historic 7th March, a day commemorating the landmark speech of Bangladesh’s first president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led the country to independence. The Historic 7th March speech by Rahman was delivered on March 7, 1971, and effectively declared the country’s independence from Pakistan. It is a realistic documentation of the limitations of post-colonial nation-states in developing inclusive, democratic societies for diverse

Latin American nations and Korea have great opportunity to cooperate and promote their cultures this year, said Argentine Ambassador to South Korea Alfredo Carlos Bascou in a recent interview with The Korea Herald. “Latin America offers an economy that is very complementary to the Korean (one) and, for this reason, the future agenda of our countries with Korea is very promising and diverse in topics and businesses,” the ambassador said. According to Bascou, 13 embassies from Latin

The European Union delegation in Korea will hold “Coffee with Europe,” to advocate for women’s rights and gender equality on International Women’s Day on Tuesday online. Under the theme of “Break the bias,” the concert will be joined by EU ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo-Fernandez, Finland ambassador to Korea Pekka Metso, Portugal ambassador to Korea Susana Vaz Patto, criminal psychologist Prof. Lee Soo-jeong and Sexual Crime Response Center Korea head S

 The Indian Embassy in Seoul, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the War Memorial of Korea co-hosted a photo exhibition on India’s humanitarian assistance during the Korean War at the War Memorial in Seoul on Thursday. India supported the UN security council resolution and extended humanitarian support by deploying the 60 Para Field Ambulance medical unit commanded by A.G. Rangaraj, an Indian lieutenant colonel, the Indian Embassy said in a press statement Wednesday.