1. The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) provided ODA in the form of grant to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) to establish a National Development Strategy for the country. The country has been making all-out efforts toward its national reconstruction and economic growth following the 1998-2003 civil war. KOICA presented the final strategy report compiled in French to the DR Congo on May 15. 

* During the summit talks between the Republic of Korea and the DR Congo in March 2010, DR Congo President Kabila requested that the ROK share its development experience. In answer to this request, the ROK conducted a Knowledge Sharing Project in 2010 and had KOICA support the country’s bid to set its National Development Strategy amid the strong interest and support of President Kabila.

2. On March 4, the final consultation on the National Development Strategy was held with President Kabila in attendance. President Kabila expressed gratitude for the support of the ROK, which is emerging as the world’s development model as the sole country to have transformed itself from one of the poorest countries to a donor country.

3. The project to develop the National Development Strategy was launched with the aim to share the ROK’s development experience and to offer policy advice on the DR Congo’s development strategy. The Strategy mainly sets the direction of development policies in six fields necessary for attaining the DR Congo’s national vision – human resources, basic infrastructure, industry, financial management and planning, resources and energy, agricultural areas, agriculture and fisheries.

° The ROK experts, who took part in this project, delivered a draft law for the promotion of foreign investment and trade, which they drafted by drawing upon the ROK’s past experience in attracting investment from other countries. This bill calls for legislating institutions designed to promote foreign investment and its protection, and to set up a comprehensive support channel, concrete investment procedures and post-investment management measures as well as various other supportive institutions and supervising bodies. It has been submitted to the DR Congo’s parliament

4. The ROK plans to continue to share its development experience and knowhow with and to support sustainable development of the DR Congo, one of the Middle African countries with much potential for growth.

                Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT

* unofficial translation