The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) began its negotiations with Egypt's Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation (MIIC) as well as the Ministry of Planning, Monitoring, and Administrative Reform (MPMAR) for implementing a new joint project, sources from KOICA's Egypt office told Daily News Egypt. The sources noted that KOICA is communicating with Egypt's governments on how it can expand its scope of wok beyond the traditional training sector, to focus more on dealing with inequality issues, adding that KOICA eyes tackling the social protection issues in Egypt. The sources affirmed KOICA's plans to help Egypt fulfill its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in line with the implemented governmental projects, adding, “we are now exploring more opportunities. KOICA's activities aren't relatively big in comparison with the past years.” The sources said that KOICA is focusing on vocational and training education, explaining that the construction of the Egyptian-Korean Technological College in Beni Suef is an ongoing project for KOICA. Notably, earlier in October, South Korean ambassador to Egypt, Yeocheol Yoon, expected the Egyptian-Korean Technological College to be completed during the first half of 2019, adding, "The technological college itself has been ongoing under the responsibility of our valuable counterpart – the Ministry of Higher Education, and we will work together with the ministry to achieve the required work during the targeted timing," The necessary technical advisory for the construction will be provided by the Korean side, while construction is proceeding, elaborated the ambassador, noting that KOICA, plans to discuss further with the Ministry of Higher Education the subject of education quality assurance. Additionally, KOICA has provided several training courses for Egyptian officials in the areas of metro and railways, according to the ambassador.
