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Roundup: Uganda boosts ties with S. Korea in new strategy to fast track dev't

Xinhua, May 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

In a change of strategy, Uganda is increasingly focusing on Asia instead of its perennial Western donors to fast track its economic development.

South Korea is the latest entrant after China, Japan and India in Uganda's renewed efforts to pull millions of its people out of poverty.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Monday concluded her three-day visit to Uganda where she signed various deals to boost the ties between the Asian and east African country.

Various cooperation agreements were signed here at the State House, 40 km south of the capital Kampala, ranging from information and communication technology, agriculture, education, infrastructure development, defense among others.

Uganda is looking at studying South Korea's development model to fast track its own development.

"We salute the Korean people who have, within a period of just 60 years, risen from destitution and poverty to the 28th richest country in the world today in terms of the size of the GDP and GDP per capita," Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said at a luncheon with Park.

He added, "There is a great potential for cooperation between South Korea and Uganda for the mutual benefit of both countries. I am glad you came to visit us so that we put more bricks on that potentially very lucrative cooperation."

Park in her article published by local daily New Vision on Friday prior to her visit, described Uganda as a country of "possibilities" and "hope" due to its unlimited potential for growth that springs from its abundant natural resources, political stability and young population.

"I believe my country's experience will be of help to Uganda, which has strong aspirations for progress. We will discuss together the challenges Uganda will likely face in the course of making progress and provide the necessary cooperation when needed," she said.

She said her visit will further enhance development cooperation in infrastructure development, agriculture, energy, information and communications technology, including the e-government system and industries.

"Korean companies have diverse experiences in infrastructure construction as well as advanced technological expertise. I hope the know-how Korea has accumulated so far will be able to contribute to economic development in Uganda," said Park.

South Korea is presently supporting the agriculture, health and education in Uganda.

The major highlight of Park's visit was the announcement by Uganda that it is ending its military cooperation with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

DPRK has been training Uganda's police and the military attracting international criticism that it should respect the UN sanctions imposed on DPRK.

"South Korea is part of the huge Asian continent and its population of 4.4 billion people. The potential for the two areas is huge," Museveni said. Endit