RoK to double development aid for Laos

The Republic of Korea (RoK) plans to more than double next year's budget for aid projects in Laos as part of efforts to boost bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
The Republic of Korea (RoK) plans to more than double next year's budgetfor aid projects in Laos as part of efforts to boost bilateralcooperation between the two countries.

The RoK's Foreign Ministryasked the Finance Ministry to earmark 4.84 billion won (4.3 millionUSD) in official development assistance (ODA) to the Southeast Asiancountry in 2014, a considerable increase from the 2.04 billion won setaside for this year.

The budget aims to launch diverse projects,including support in education, drawing national topographic maps, aswell as expanding support for existing programmes in medical care andinfrastructure building among others.

The RoK's ODA to Laosrose from 5.8 billion won in 2009 to 6.8 billion won in 2011. It tumbledto 3.8 billion won in 2012 and to 2.04 billion won this year.-VNA

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