Addis Ababa October 22/2024 (ENA) World Friends Korea (WFK) program is creating a platform to enhance the social, cultural and technological exchanges between Ethiopia and the Republic of Korea, Finance Ministry official remarked. World Friends Korea (WFK), inaugurated on May 7, 2009, is the Korean government's overseas volunteer group that aims at helping people around the world by dispatching volunteers to more than 40 developing countries, sharing Korea's development experiences with partner countries to support their economic and social growth. These volunteers present their experience in the field of their expertise in preparing education materials at schools, providing medical care service at hospitals and in promoting Ethiopian heritages in terms of tourism. Today, WFK held its organizational representative consultative meeting in Addis Ababa. Speaking on the occasion, Bilateral Cooperation Directorate at Ethiopia's Ministry Of Finance Derje Girma said the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)’s support to Ethiopia is multifaceted. Ethiopia has been benefiting greatly from various KOICA programs, including development projects, volunteer programs and capacity building initiatives. According to him, KOICA has made significant contribution to poverty reduction and support the provision of essential social services, such as the construction of schools, health facilities and water infrastructure, including irrigation dams among others. As part of its development cooperation in Ethiopia, KOICA dispatches junior and senior volunteers to various government offices to share Korean knowledge and experience and “I believe KOICA has made great strides in this regard." KOICA Country Director in Ethiopia Han Deog Cho on his part said KOICA said that currently Korean volunteer are engaged in Ethiopia in various field of areas including health, education, and tourism and others. "The annual meeting with host organizational representatives like the one we have today, are a platform in which we collectively explore the ways to advance partnership for promoting volunteerism and create an enabling environment to help volunteers contribute more and better for the host communities." World Friends Korea volunteers to our partner countries including Ethiopia share and learn knowledge, expertise and skills with host communities with a strong belief that volunteerism has a lot to offer and serve to make our world better, the director stressed. Even if the COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted our World Friends Korea volunteer program a lot, KOICA resumed volunteer program in Ethiopia in May 2022, he noted. Indicating Korean volunteers are currently involved in various fields in Ethiopia, he affirmed, that more volunteers will join this program. KOICA has been a steadfast partner of Ethiopia in the country’s journey towards progress and prosperity, he added. The Director also expressed the commitment of KOICA to continue support to Ethiopia that help the country achieve its development vision and objectives envisaged in its polices and strategies like the 10 -year Development plan, Home grown economic reform and climate resilient Green Economy strategy.