The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has completed three decades of development partnership in Nepal with a commemorative event on Friday titled “Together for 30 years: A journey of trust and cooperation”.

Organising an event, three major project agreements that mark KOICA’s strategic priorities for the years ahead were signed.

The first was the establishment of the Gandaki Institute of Technology, a $9 million project to be implemented from 2025 to 2030. The GIT will be set up in Pokahara, Lekhnath and a dedicated burn unit will be established, said Dhanraj Acharya, the mayor of Pokhara Metropolitan City.

Two other records of discussion were also signed for the two projects on Friday. The Value Chain Development Project (Phase II) in Lumbini Province, with the $10 million to be initiated from 2025 to 2031 was signed.

The establishment of the Sudurpaschim Polytechnic Institute, with a budget of USD 10 million was also signed. Officials from the government of Nepal and KOICA signed these agreements.

Speaking at the event, Mooheon Kong, KOICA Nepal country director, emphasised KOICA’s enduring partnership with Nepal and its unwavering commitment to inclusive and sustainable development. He highlighted the agency’s focus on supporting local capacity building and fostering innovation across key sectors such as education, health, agriculture, and governance.

Park Tae-young, ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nepal, noted that KOICA’s 30-year journey in Nepal reflects the deep-rooted friendship and mutual trust between the two nations. He emphasised Korea’s continued commitment to supporting Nepal’s socio-economic development and highlighted the new project agreements as a symbol of shared progress and future cooperation.

According to a statement, starting in 1991, the government of the Republic of Korea, through KOICA, has been a key development partner of Nepal, supporting various sectors such as health, education, agriculture, vocational training, rural development, IT, and tourism.

“KOICA has dispatched 2,921 volunteers to government institutions across the country. Additionally, over 2,230 Nepali officials have participated in KOICA’s fellowship programmes. KOICA collaborates with businesses, CSOs, universities, and foreign agencies to help Nepal achieve its SDGs,” said the statement.

“Since Nepal was designated a priority country for KOICA in 2010, support has significantly increased, and by 2025, KOICA’s total assistance surpassed USD 200 million.”

This progress has been further strengthened through a framework agreement on development cooperation, reinforcing the strong and growing friendship between the two nations, it said.