Interview with Spotlight
2007.6.1-7
1. Relations
between Nepal and the Republic of Korea
remain cordial as your country has been supporting Nepal in different areas of
development. How do you see the present state of relations between the two
countries?
Ans.: I think the present state of relations is
very good. A number of meaningful and concrete progresses have been made in the
bilateral relations particularly for the last one year. Among them, progresses in the following three are
outstanding.
The first one is the opening of the Embassy
of Nepal in Seoul,
in March this year. Ever since the
establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries in 1974, the Republic of Korea
alone has maintained its Embassy in Kathmandu.
In this light, this fact is hard evidence that our bilateral relations have
reached the point where our two countries have many things to share and
exchange, and feel the need for more cooperation in various areas. I am
convinced that the Nepalese Embassy in Seoul
will play a very important role in further strengthening the existing friendly
and cooperative relationship between out two countries.
Secondly, the opening of sky way between our
two countries by the direct flight operation of Korean Air in November last
year. With that air-service, each of the two countries now can have a very easy
access to the other country. From Korea,
more tourists are coming to Nepal.
The recent statistical data on the number of foreign tourists show that the
number of Korean tourists has increased by almost 180% in April this year. I
firmly believe that this will be a firm foundation for promoting exchanges of
people and trade relations between our two countries.
Thirdly, the inclusion of Nepal in the list of the Employment
Permit System (EPS) countries. I am expecting the MOU of EPS will be signed
very shortly as the two governments are ready to do so. Under the new EPS,
Nepalese workers will have job opportunities with far more favourable working
conditions: better salary, welfare and job security, to name a few. I am also
convinced that the EPS will be beneficial to the economics of our two
countries.
Notwithstanding the above progresses, I think
there is still much room for deepening our relations further. Fortunately, I
believe, the foundation for future development in our relations is now firmly
laid.
2. Nepal is trying to introduce IT in the
governance sector and the Republic of Korea has already supported Nepal to develop an e-Government
Master Plan. As a country having very traditional administrative system, how
easier is it for Nepal
to introduce e-Governance? How the Korean
government will help in future to implement it?
Ans.: With
the advent of the information era, providing broad access to information has
become a vital issue for the public as well as private sector. In this context,
governments around the world are aiming to establish the e-Government for the
purpose of its better services to citizens and more efficient management. The
resulting benefits can be less corruption, increased transparency, greater
convenience, and/or cost reductions. I believe the Nepalese government can also
enjoy those benefits from e-Government. Implementation of e-Government is very
challenging task. If I just look back from Korea’s experiences, the first
important thing is the top leader's full commitment of implementation.
Secondly, it needs to detect works that cause bottleneck in workflows or cut
inappropriate works, and deploy new system through Business Process
Reengineering (BPR). This is a very difficult job but most actions are to
be taken before informatization of government. In order to expedite the
e-Government, Korean government has established a special organization under
the President called PCGID (Presidential Committee on Government Innovation
and Decentralization). They are taking charge of all process of innovation
activities based on the e-Governance roadmap. Finally, each Ministry should
develop individual e-Government application based on its priority and
budget with technical support from experts group under the Master Plan of
e-Government.
Recognizing that ‘bridging
the digital divide’ is one of the most important determinants to alleviate
poverty, and to facilitate sustainable economic growth for developing
countries, KOICA has given to extend assistance to partner countries to share
the benefits of information technology and develop digital opportunities as we are highly recognized
by UN eGov Index as No. 5th in the world in 2005. For the development of ICT
sector in Nepal,
we have already provided eGMP consulting report to the Nepalese Government
team last year. KOICA is also planning to support the
Project for Establishment of the Government Integrated Data Centre and IT
Training Centre, which will begin this year with a budget of US$ 2.5 million. In addition to this, KOICA
supported to establish 10 School Tele-centres in districts and also
developed Cyber Nepali dictionary for the public use. KOICA dispatches about 5
Volunteers annually in fields of computer and electronics as well.
3. As the Nepalese and Korean
Governments are about to sign the MOU of EPS (Employment Permit System), how
Nepalese workers will benefit from it?
Ans.: EPS is the very policy to recruit Nepalese
workers according to the Korean labour related Law. During the period of
employment all the benefits to Nepalese workers will be identical to Korean
workers such as Labour standard Act, Minimum Wages Act, Industrial Safety
Health Act etc. For more detailed information on EPS, I would like to advise
those who are interested in seeking job opportunities in Korea to visit the Internet site of
EPS: www.eps.go.kr.
In comparison with the previous ITS, EPS is
designed to establish a transparent network and legal way for the employment in
Korea.
Therefore, under EPS, only the government or government designated public
organizations will be given the responsibility of recruiting workers. My
understanding on this is that the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management
and the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLEP) of Nepal and the Ministry of Labour
and the Human Resources Development Service of Korea will be the responsible
bodies for EPS. Therefore, in Nepal,
no other than the DOLEP can take part in the process of recruiting, selecting
and sending workers to Korea.
Details will be agreed upon as the MOU will be signed between our two Ministers
of Labour.
Under EPS, salary level and welfare level
will be significantly increased than those under ITS. The reason is quite
simple. Under ITS, the status of foreign workers is industrial trainee. As a
trainee, each worker’s wage level should not be as much as ordinary or regular
worker. Under EPS, each foreign worker will be given the status of a regular
worker. Protection of rights and interests of foreign workers will be applied
as equally as Korean counterparts based on the labour standard law, the minimum
wage law and industrial health and safety law.
Any Nepalese men and women of age between
19-40 are eligible to be applicants and they must pass the Korean language
proficiency test accredited by the Korean government and medical test by the Nepalese
and Korean governments. Not all applicants are guaranteed for employment in Korea.
Korean employers have their rights to select preferred job seekers among those
who meet their requirements.
4. Korean
Air has started its regular flight linking Nepal to its global network. How does
the direct flight between Kathmandu and Seoul
contribute to increase the number of Korean tourists in Nepal?
Ans.: Nepal and Korea have many similarities in
cultural and traditional aspects. Nepal
is a country of biodiversity and is endowed with natural beauty, particularly
the Himalayas. Nepal’s natural beauty attracts
thousands and thousands of people from around the world and the Korean people
cannot be any exception. It is well known that since the restoration of peace
in Nepal,
the visitors’ figure soared up rapidly. We believe that the regular and direct flight
of Korean Air to Nepal
will definitely assist to push up the ratio of Korean visitors each year and
help strengthen bilateral relationship. During the month April, this year only,
we have the record of 677 Korean visitors. This ratio is very encouraging and
it will undoubtedly help boost up the tourism industry of Nepal. Since visitors from Korea have option to fly directly to Nepal, they are free from the nuisance of flying
to other destinations or spending hours in transit or requirement of visa of
that country en route Nepal.
As the access between the two countries becomes easy, this will be a firm foundation for promoting exchanges of people and trade
relations between our two countries. Moreover, Korean Air is planning to
increase its regular and direct flight three times a week from coming October,
if political stability is maintained and more secured environment is assured.
Therefore, this is a happy news that
the direct and regular flight of Korean Air to Nepal has certainly helped in the
increment of 180 percent Korean visitors this April only.
5. Many
Korean companies are investing in Nepal,
what is their impression working in Nepal at this crucial juncture?
Ans.: Nepal is a close friend of Korea and has always been wishing good times in
all sectors, be it political, economical or over all development of Nepal.
This is the world of globalization. As Korea’s fast growing economy booms
in the country, the establishment of Korean companies in foreign lands
increases. With the configuration of new government and restoration of peace in
recent time, many Korean companies are attracted to put their hands in Nepali market
so as to bring mutual benefits. Since 1984, set up of series of Korean
companies have been very remarkable. As of 2006 data, there are about fifty
nine Korean companies established yet. They vary from textile to spinning
industries, from motor repairing companies to language and computer training
centres, and from medical services to mostly restaurants and hotels. And the
total amount of investment according to the record of FNCCI is around Nrs.
951.68 million till present. And of course the number will certainly soar up
every year if the political upheavals are settled and a secure environment for
investment is guaranteed.
6. As
an ambassador from a developed country like Korea, how do you see Nepal’s
current development process?
An.s: A Millennium Development Goals’ (MDGs) Needs
Assessment Report for Nepal
in 2006 said that there has been remarkable reduction in poverty and hunger in
aggregate level for the past 15 years. However, the report has also called for
special efforts to address education and hunger-related activities etc. The
progress has been far from satisfactory in the case of rural infrastructure as
well. To achieve MDGs in Nepal,
all international societies need to enhance efforts to support Nepal.
I would like to highlight here that the most important thing in new era for Nepal,
after ending the conflict of 11 years, is a strong political leadership for a
vision of New Nepal and integrated society, and better coordination and
implementation of international assistance from donors. As I understand,
international society is ready to support peace building and reconstruction of Nepal.
In
addition to the outside support, the Nepalese government should have its own
development strategy based on correct and accurate understanding of the hard
reality and potentiality of Nepal.
As many economists and politicians have stressed that strong leadership as well
as clear vision for the national development can draw up the right development
strategy and successfully implement it. I think Nepal is no exception to this kind
of advice.
7. Korea
has been providing technical supports to Nepal
in various sectors and in which areas the Republic
of Korea is supporting Nepal
now?
Ans: To strengthen friendly and cooperative
relationship between Korea
and Nepal, the Korean
government has made efforts to assist with the socio-economic development of Nepal
through various development programs implemented by the Korea International
Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
Assistance in 2007 is about US$3.1 million. The amount is expected to
double in 3 years. KOICA has given priorities in the fields of education,
health, rural development and ICT for Nepal. KOICA is conducting two
projects now. The project for establishment of Korea-Nepal Friendship
Hospital in Thimi, which
is designed to assist with the improvement of public health care services in
the immediate and neighbouring areas. Another is the project for establishment
of the Government Integrated Data Centre and IT
Training Centre which is to facilitate the e-Government of Nepal. In addition, KOICA plans to invite 57
Nepalese government officials to Korea for 34 training courses. The
majority of the courses will deal with the IT and governance sectors and aims
to help narrow the digital divide and spur economic growth and good governance.
KOICA will also offer courses on rural development, education and vocational
training, and energy etc.
The Korea Overseas
Volunteer program is one of the major assistance programs for Nepal with a total of 60 volunteers scheduled to
be dispatched to Nepal
in 2007. Moreover, two medical doctors from KOICA are volunteering to serve at
the Bhaktapur Hospital and the Korea-Nepal Friendship
hospital respectively; providing services to approximately 700 patients in a
month.
As a part of support for peace process in Nepal, KOICA provided 10.6 million
Rs. worth of IT equipments to Election Commission and Police Headquarters.
KOICA has already delivered 95 multi-functioned laser printers and 57 portable
hard disks to EC. I expect that 100 Desktop PCs will be provided to Police
Headquarters in June.
KOICA also supports grass-roots projects in the fields of primary
education, health care, and income generation through Korean development NGOs
in Nepal,
and has been doing so since 1995.
The Korean Government
would like to make great efforts to support not only in Nepal's economic development but
also in peace-building through the cooperation programs of KOICA.
About KOICA
Korea International Cooperation Agency, KOICA was founded in 1991 under the
Foreign Ministry of the Republic
of Korea. KOICA is the
sole government agency having the responsibility of Korea’s grant aid programs to
developing countries with the slogan “Cooperation for a Better World”. The
purpose of KOICA’s development assistance programs is to share Korea’s
knowledge and experience acquired with other developing countries, with a view
to contribute to their national development.
8. Your
country has also experiences of passing through a very difficult time. What is your
observation about Nepal?
Ans.: The entire Korean peninsula had been
devastated by the Korean War (1950-1953). The Korean people had to start their
national reconstruction almost from the scratch. The Korean people have
undertaken economic development in earnest since 1962. In less than four
decades, they achieved an incredible process that dramatically transformed the
Korean economy, now ranked the 12th largest economy in the world.
In the course of its national development, Korea has faced a number of challenges such as
political turmoil, economic crises, military confrontation between the two Koreas
and so forth. The Korean people have met the challenges with courage and wisdom
sometimes even by sacrificing themselves.
There may be many factors which lead to
national development. Among them, as many can agree, Human Resources
Development might be the number one factor particularly to those countries with
scarce natural resources. Human resources, unlike other natural resources, have
been regarded as a never drying well. Korea has invested enormously in
the education sector. With heavy and long-time investment in that sector, Korea became
able to shorten the development path.
If I may suggest one more factor, I would
like to bring forward the wise development strategy. An outward-oriented
economic development strategy, which uses exports as the main engine of growth,
contributes greatly to the rapid economic transformation. Based on such a
strategy, many development programs have been successfully implemented.
My observation on Nepal
in this context is very limited mainly because of my shallow knowledge about Nepal.
As a foreign diplomat who has stayed in Nepal
just over one year, I am afraid that I should make irrelevant comments based on
my shallow experiences of Nepal.
But If I dare to say something about Nepal, first of all, I would like
to stress the importance of recovering the political and social stability
through reconciliation and social integration at an earliest date possible. In
my opinion, for sustainable national development of Nepal,
there should be consensus on the development strategy which is really suitable
to Nepal.
In order to design its own development strategy, it is not only necessary for Nepal
to benchmark the successful cases from other countries, but also important to
make precise and accurate analyses about its own social and economic
circumstances.
The world has already moved into a highly
competitive society. These days, each and every country is taking very bold
measures for its national development. In this light, Nepal doesn’t have luxury of time
to spend a long time to prepare for its national development. (End)
