KOICA president concludes high-level visit to Bangladesh

The President of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), H. E. Chang Won Sam, has concluded a significant three-day official visit to Bangladesh, marking a new milestone in the longstanding development partnership between the Republic of Korea and the Government of Bangladesh.

A key highlight of the visit was his meeting with the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, during which both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and expanding development cooperation in priority areas. Discussions centred on Korea's continued support for public sector modernisation, digital transformation, human capital development, and climate-resilient growth. The KOICA President expressed the agency's commitment to advancing these priorities through long-term, sustainable, and people-centred initiatives.

H. E. Chang visited the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), where he was received by the Chief Engineer. He reviewed ongoing collaboration between KOICA and RHD, including projects aimed at improving highway safety, traffic management, and bridge maintenance through advanced digital technologies. After presentations by project leaders, he toured the Traffic Management Centre and symbolically handed over vehicles to strengthen operational efficiency, underscoring KOICA's support for Bangladesh's transition towards an intelligent and reliable road transport system.

In the health sector, the KOICA President visited the National Institute of Advanced Nursing Education and Research (NIANER), a flagship KOICA-funded institution. He praised NIANER's contribution to strengthening Bangladesh's nursing workforce and reaffirmed KOICA's strong support for establishing the country's first PhD programme in nursing. He stated that higher-level nursing education would reinforce the health system, deepen research capacity, and help develop the next generation of faculty and nurse leaders. He acknowledged the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery (DGNM), and NIANER in sustaining academic excellence.

H. E. Chang also met with the Secretary and senior officials of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) to review the ongoing development cooperation portfolio and discuss future strategic priorities. Both sides reiterated their commitment to transparent, results-oriented, and mutually beneficial collaboration aligned with Bangladesh's national development goals.

Throughout the visit, the KOICA President emphasised the agency's dedication to working closely with the Government of Bangladesh to build resilient institutions, empower human resources, and promote sustainable development across key sectors. His visit reinforced the depth of the Korea–Bangladesh partnership, built on decades of trust and shared aspirations for long-term progress.