Kathmandu: The Embassy of the Republic of Korea has donated fully automated biochemistry analyzers, valued at USD 402,500, to Nepal.
The official handover took place at the Ministry of Health and Population today, in the presence of Dr Roshan Pokhrel, Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal and Park Tae-Young, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nepal. Secretary Pokhrel accepted the donation on behalf of the Nepal government.
During the handover ceremony, Ambassador Park highlighted the Korean government’s commitment to Nepal’s healthcare sector development. He affirmed that such initiatives align with Korea’s enduring support to Nepal as a steadfast development partner.
Having designated Nepal as a “Priority Cooperation Country” for 15 consecutive years in development cooperation, the Korean government has consistently provided diverse assistance in key areas, including health & sanitation, agriculture, education, rural development, and energy.
The Korean government has provided substantial support to Nepal, including USD 188.6 million allocated through KOICA since 1991. Of this amount, 26.8% was in the health sector, supporting the establishment of hospitals in Mugu, Nuwakot, and Tikapur.
Additionally, a 2nd phase capacity-building project for the Nepal Korea Friendship Municipality Hospital in Bhaktapur, which involves the construction of an additional 150-bed hospital, is currently ongoing.
In addition, Korea has been providing immediate support to Nepal during challenging times, including the 2015 Nepal earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic.
In line with this commitment, the Korean government has decided to provide USD 300,000 in humanitarian assistance to help the people of Nepal affected by the recent earthquake in Karnali.
As 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Nepal, the Korean government plans to commemorate this milestone with various projects.
These initiatives aim to further expand bilateral cooperation across diverse fields between the two nations, the South Korean embassy in Kathmandu said.
News Source: Rashtriya Samachar Samiti