South Korea and Myanmar have signed cooperation agreements on development of rural areas and nutrition programmes in the impoverished Southeast Asian nation.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on rural development was signed between Ohn Myint, minister for livestock, fisheries and rural development, and Lee Sang Me, president of South Korea Rural Community Corp, in Nay Pyi Taw recently.
Lee Sang Me said South Korea will provide assistance to Myanmar in its efforts for national development. He said South Korea will arrange for interested Myanmar students to receive training on agriculture, livestock breeding and veterinary at National University in Seoul, South Korea.
Ohn Myint said that emphasis should be put on the marginally poor in the least developed regions of the country to ensure sharing of equitable socioeconomic benefits.
The East Asian powerhouse, which had its own struggle with poverty prior to its economic boom, will also cooperate in nutrition sector by promoting cow breeding and dairy products. An MoU in this regard was signed between the livestock ministry and South Korea’s Seoul Dairy Products (SDP) company.
Ohn Myint said Myanmar can save $50 million per year in dairy imports if there were sufficient production of milk and dairy products.
SDP CEO Lee Dong Young said his company will cooperate with the ministry on expanding school milk-feeding program and develop more cow-breeding and dairy products through establishment of milk-cow breeding farms and milk processing plants.