Turkish, South Korean agencies to boost cooperation

By Tugcenur Yilmaz

ANKARA (AA) – The heads of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) signed an agreement Wednesday to boost cooperation in development activities.

TIKA and KOICA agreed to renew a cooperation protocol in order to work together throughout the world, especially in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

The head of TIKA, Serdar Cam, is in South Korea together with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to a press release from the Turkish aid agency.

Erdogan's two-day trip makes him Turkey's first leader to pay a state visit to South Korea since the countries upgraded bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership in 2012, a year before signing a free trade agreement.

During their meeting with KOICA head Lee Mikyung, Cam shared information about TIKA’s work in Palestine, Somalia, Afghanistan, Syria and especially for the Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people.

He added that TIKA wanted to work together with the South Korean agency to expand their work by developing joint projects in third world countries.

Lee said the two countries understand each other well, especially in the area of development, as both had received aid in the past.

He added that Turkey and South Korea are now helping other countries.