Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Dr. Song Jong-Hwan recommended that Pakistan has to adopt the Saemaul Undong (New Village Movement) which was the first step towards prosperity for Korea.

He stated this while addressing in a international seminar on “Entrepreneurial Thinking & Paradigm Change in Agriculture” at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) here on Friday.

Ambassador said Saemaul Undong is a community-based rural development program on improving the basic living conditions and environment whereas later projects concentrated on building rural infrastructure and increasing income.

He said that Korea has a few resources but now considered as one of the top economies of the world and that was happened because of  Korean Leadership vision, people sacrifice, Export drive, education and new village movement. He was the opinion if Pakistan adopt this vision there is no power who can stop its economic development.

He informed the gathering that Korea is assisting Pakistan in many projects to make it prosperous. The Embassy of Republic of Korea and Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) will continue to participate actively with the aim of making PMAS-AAUR and Pakistan more developed and peaceful, he added.

He said PAK-Korea Capacity Building Center (PKCBC) at the University will significantly contribute to improve agricultural technologies as well as educational capabilities of PMAS-AAUR. He stressed the need of education  and said both countries have strong bilateral relations. He hoped that PMAS-AAUR could take lead in disseminating the “Saemaul Undong Movement” not only in the rural areas of Pakistan but PKCBC can also play a central role in central and south asian countries.

Prof. Dr. Kim-Ung Kim, PROJECT Manager PKCBC in his key note address described Korean Model which engages academia industry stake holder for result of entrepreneurship thinking to change agriculture under the light of Sameul-Undong.

Earlier, Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, PMAS-AAUR, in his welcome address expressed his appreciation for continuous support and cooperation of KOICA office and kind patronizing by His Excellency, Dr. Song Jong-Hwan the Ambassador of Republic of Korea to Pakistan. He informed the gathering that Korea is among top 10 economies of the world and as a nation set an example for others countries.