Republic of Korea PM Remembers CARICOM Countries’ Support During Korean War – Pledges Increase to Korea-CARICOM Cooperation Fund
Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, the Hon. Han Duck-Soo, recently recalled the assistance Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname gave to his country during the Korean War.
He said without their dedication and assistance, and that of the international community, the country would not have been able to experience the freedom and peace it enjoys today.
Prime Minister Han was a special guest of CARICOM Heads at their 45th Summit in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago 3-5 July 2023. He delivered a tribute at a special session of the Summit on 4 July, and engaged with Heads of Government over a working luncheon on 5 July.
In his remarks, he said his country is on a thrust to give back what it has received from the international community thus far.
To demonstrate its strong commitment to CARICOM, he said the East Asian country will increase its contribution to the Korea-CARICOM Cooperation Fund, fivefold in 2024.
“Courageous youth from Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, risked their lives to defend a distant country from aggression, while material assistance from Haiti proved invaluable to war efforts,” the Prime Minister recalled, adding that Korea relied on fisheries from the Caribbean region for the initial growth of its marine industry.
The country stands ready to share its experience with reconstruction and growth, as it “understands the prerequisites for economic development,” Mr. Han noted.
In this regard, he told CARICOM Heads that Korea aspires to further strengthen ties with Caribbean countries “at all levels encompassing governmental collaborations as well as private sector engagements.”
To achieve this goal, he proposed an annual Ministerial-level Korea-Caribbean Dialogue in the Caribbean for policy consultations between the two sides.
Expressing Korea’s interest in supporting research and capacity building in the marine sector, he announced an MOU signed with the Association of Caribbean States, and the country’s plans to establish a Korea-Caribbean Joint Ocean Research Centre in the Caribbean.
Prime Minster Han noted the intention to expand cooperation in renewable energy between Korea’s Energy Agency and the Caribbean Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE).
Source: CARICOM TODAY