1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Rural Development Administration (RDA) jointly dispatched a delegation for agricultural cooperation to Colombia and Costa Rica from July 5 to 8 to discuss ways to pursue cooperation for co-prosperity in the field of agriculture in the post-COVID-19 era (Head of delegation: Dr. Kwon Taek-Ryoun, Director-General of the Technology Cooperation Bureau of the RDA).

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2. During its visit to Colombia from July 5 to 7, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Rodolfo Zea and suggested expanding cooperation on digital and eco-friendly agricultural technology in which Korea has strengths, as well as seeking related cooperation projects such as for agricultural value chain improvements and an increase in the rural household income, in response to Colombia’s requests for such cooperation.

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° Minister Zea noted with satisfaction the initiation of Colombian avocado exports to Korea this year and bilateral cooperation in agricultural digital transformation including that sought during his visit to Korea to attend the Korea-LAC Digital Cooperation Forum in March. He also expressed his firm will to enhance cooperation for inclusive green recovery between Korea and Colombia, the host countries of the 2nd and 3rd P4G Summits in 2021 and 2023, respectively.

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3. In addition, during the high-level meeting on agriculture between Korea and Colombia on July 6, the two sides discussed specific ways of cooperation such as strengthening rural productivity and green technology cooperation in response to climate change in line with Colombia’s demand. The two sides agreed that the two countries will work together at the 4th Korea-Latin America Food & Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (KoLFACI) General Assembly in April 2022, the year marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and 15 Latin American countries.

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° The delegation also visited the Colombian Agricultural Research Corporation (AGROSAVIA) and discussed cooperation in developing varieties adapted to climate change and low carbon composting of livestock excretions.

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4. Following its visit to Colombia, the delegation visited Costa Rica from July 7 to 8, and paid a courtesy visit to Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Renato Alvarado, to whom it relayed the Korean government’s commitment to expanding comprehensive and future-oriented cooperative ties between Korea and Central America as agreed upon at the 4th Korea-SICA Summit. During the visit, the delegation also expressed Korea’s wishes for stronger cooperation in eco-friendly agriculture and biodiversity conservation with Costa Rica, which has the greatest biodiversity in Central America and leads the fight against climate change.

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° Welcoming the delegation’s visit, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Alvarado appreciated Korea’s great contribution to agricultural technology innovation and small farmers’ capacity strengthening through KoLFACI and expressed his desire to expand bilateral trade in agriculture through the Korea-Central America FTA as well as to enhance cooperation in eco-friendly and digital agriculture in which Korea has strengths.

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5. In addition, during the high-level meeting on agriculture between Korea and Costa Rica on July 8, both sides agreed to promote joint research and development necessary for low carbon agriculture in response to climate change and the digital transformation of the agricultural industry through KoLFACI. Moreover, they also agreed to work together to raise awareness among Koreans about Central American coffee through the International Coffee Symposium to be held in Korea in September.

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° The delegation also visited the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) in Costa Rica to discuss ways of enhancing cooperation on digital agriculture in Central America.

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6. The delegation’s visits to Colombia and Costa Rica are seen to have served as an opportunity to implement Korea’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Latin America in the field of agriculture, which has been expressed in a series of summits including the Korea-U.S. Summit, the Korea-Spain Summit and the Korea-SICA Summit, as well as to concretize cooperation for inclusive green recovery between Korea, the host country of the P4G Seoul Summit, and Latin America.

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7. The final leg of the tour will take the delegation to Guatemala, where it will stay from July 8 to 10 and hold a Korea-Northern Central America Forum on Agricultural Cooperation in order to seek ways to support three Northern Central American countries in the agricultural sector.




° The Forum is also expected to contribute to enhancing the Korea-U.S. partnership in addressing the root causes of migration from three Northern Central American countries, as agreed upon during the recent Korea-U.S. Summit.