Starting this year, Korea will begin cooperation with the World Food Program (WFP), the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting against hunger, to help ensure food security in Cuba.

The Korean delegation visited the headquarters of the WFP in Rome on February 9 and 10. They agreed to provide the WFP with funds of some USD 3 million between 2015 and 2017 to help Cuba increase its food productivity and to fight against hunger. This will be the first official cooperation between Korea and Cuba at the government level.

The WFP is an international agency aiming to achieve a world of "zero hunger." It helps nations across the globe fight poverty and hunger, and to secure a sustainable food supply. The Korean government started planning to support food programs in Cuba in early 2014.

The food security program will be carried out alongside activities to supply food to vulnerable classes and to lay a foundation for a self-reinforcing infrastructure and system. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that this would be a chance to make a meaningful contribution to the development of Cuban economy and society, and that Cuba has expressed its gratitude for Korea's support.


On February 11, Bae Jae-hyun, the Korean ambassador in Italy, and Director Ertharin Cousin of the WFP met at the WFP headquarters to officially sign a new agreement, the Korea-WFP Partnership Framework Agreement, terminating the existing aid agreement from 1968.

Cousin said that the new agreement between Korea and the WFP is a symbol of Korea's rapid economic development, and looked forward to the start of a strategic partnership with Korea in the near future.

By Lee Seung-ah
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Korea.net Staff Wrier
slee27@korea.kr