The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) announced that it will host the International ODA* Symposium at Seoul President Hotel on April 6, 2016, at 14:00.

*ODA: official development assistance

At the event, which will be hosted by KIOST and sponsored by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, some 70 experts in the field of ocean science and technology from not only Korea but also Colombia, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania will give keynote speeches and engage in discussions under the theme of “Capacity Building in Ocean Science and Technology.”

The symposium aims to develop a new agenda for Korea’s prospective ODA projects for sustainable economic development in developing countries and will be launched with six keynote speeches on several different topics, including the ODA agendas of different countries, improvement of ocean environment and sedimentation remediation pilot projects, and the London Protocol and assistance for accession to the agreement. Following the keynote speeches, a general discussion will be held in which participants will engage in in-depth discussions on effective cooperation measures that take into consideration the demands of each country and achievements in advanced science and technology.

KIOST President Hong Gi-hoon commented, “The International ODA Symposium is a significant step in that experts in ocean science and technology from three candidate countries for ODA projects？Colombia, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania？will work together with Korea to develop a new agenda.” He went on to emphasize that the event will be “an opportunity to develop ODA projects led by Korea based on mutual cooperation and understanding with different countries.”