Cooperation Program Signed Between KOICA and Lao Cai Province

South Korea will assist Lao Cai Province in education, health and community development from 2013–2015 under the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding signed today in Hanoi.The “Haeng Bok Program" (Happy Program) was signed by the Korea International Co-operation Agency (KOICA) and a Lao Cai provincial leader.Korea would help Lao Cai to increase human capacity, provide more and better health and education services, improve people’s livelihoods and achieve sustainable development, said the resident representative of KOICA Vietnam, Kim In.As one of the KOICA’s comprehensive ODA programs in Vietnam, it will focus on supporting community development by sharing S Korea’s experience in new rural development while building an inclusive partnership based on the Busan High Lever Forum on Aid Effectiveness.Lao Cai is a one of the poorest provinces in Vietnam. The majority of the poor in Lao Cai are ethnic minorities. Education and medical services in the province are also weak. However, Lao Cai has high development potential because it shares a frontier with China and an expressway connecting China’s Kunming to Lao Cai and Haiphong is under construction. (Vietnam News Feb 22)