KOICA Strengthens Iraq-Korea Ties

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the KOICA Alumni Association in Iraq (KAAI) held their 2025 Annual General Assembly in Baghdad on 16 October to celebrate the graduation of a new group of Iraqi trainees who completed KOICA's development programmes.

The event was attended by H.E. Lee Jun-il, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Iraq; Dr Hisham Al-Alawi, Undersecretary of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and around 200 government officials, UN representatives, academics, and media professionals.

The gathering highlighted the growing friendship between Iraq and Korea, showcasing the role of people-to-people exchange in driving sustainable development. Students from Barda Elementary School performed a welcoming song celebrating Iraqi-Korean friendship, while a cultural segment introduced Korean traditions and language through an interactive session.

KOICA's contributions extend beyond short-term training. The agency supports higher education by offering scholarships for master's and doctoral studies in South Korea, fostering academic exchange and knowledge transfer. Its CIAT Center in Korea hosts workshops and training sessions that bring together Iraqi and Korean professionals in a collaborative learning environment focused on sustainable development.

Ambassador Lee Jun-il expressed pride in the graduates, describing them as "living bridges" between Iraq and Korea and reaffirming Korea's commitment to supporting Iraq's progress. Dr Al-Alawi commended Korea's continued assistance since 2003, calling the bilateral relationship a model of mutual respect and shared interests, and encouraged Iraq to learn from Korea's development experience.

KOICA's human-centred approach, focused on partnership and knowledge-sharing, was widely praised by attendees. The event concluded with expressions of appreciation to KOICA, the Korean Embassy, and the agency's team for their enduring support of education and development in Iraq.