The 20th Korea-United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific(ESCAP) Annual Consultation on the Korea-ESCAP Cooperation Fund(KECF) was held in Bangkok, Thailand, on February 15, to review on-going cooperation projects and approve new ones. The Korean delegation was headed by Mr. Choi Jai-chul, Director-General of International Economic Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, while the ESCAP delegation was led by Mr. Shigeru Mochida, Deputy Executive Secretary of the ESCAP.

In the opening session, Mr. Shigeru Mochida stated that the ESCAP has been facilitating reform efforts to enhance its capability and develop into a regional hub, in particular, by adopting a multi-disciplinary approach in the field of environment and development, and that of great importance is the projects of technical cooperation with the member states for the successful completion of reforms. Mr. Choi Jai-chul affirmed that the Korean government would keep enhancing its cooperation with the ESCAP and that KECF projects should be chosen in the fields where the ESCAP and Korean government have a comparative advantage taking into account the changing and emerging need for the ESCAP and its member states as well as their major policies.

At the meeting, the two sides agreed to implement six projects of technical cooperation amounting to US$610,000 in 2008, including provision of ICT(information and communication technology)capacity building training programme, enhancement of ICT accessibility for the disabled, regional intermodal transport planning containing Trans-Asian Railway(TAR) network, promotion of Green Growth, and development of project-framework of trans-Asian energy system(TAES).
 
The Korean Government concluded a Memorandum of Understanding with the ESCAP on the Establishment of the Korea-ESCAP Cooperation Fund in September 1987 to support the economic and social development of the Asia- Pacific region and to promote cooperative ties with the ESCAP. From 1987 to 2007, Korea has contributed about US$9.52 million in support of a total of 174 technical cooperation projects in various fields such as development, transportation, energy, environment, and trade facilitation.