South Korea is preparing to make a rice donation to Cuba, just over a year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between both nations and at a time when the economic crisis on the island is exacerbated.
The donation was announced Monday by the South Korean ambassador to Havana, Lee Ho-Yul, who cataloged him as a “concrete sample of cooperation” between the two countries, review Latin press (PL).
In this way, South Korea will join other food donors, and in particular rice, the Caribbean nation, such as China and Vietnam, although it does not have the political affinity of these countries with Cuba and their effective diplomatic links They barely date from last year.
Seoul will manage the donation together with the World Food Program (PMA) with the objective of “reinforcing food security in Cuba”, adds the information, which does not require the amount of rice that would reach the country or its monetary amount.
The report also does not provide a possible date of arrival of the donation to the island, but it does add up to other bilateral cooperation areas mentioned by the ambassador.
South Korea opens embassy in Cuba a year after restoring diplomatic relations
Food projects, medical supplies, investments …
In statements offered during an act in Havana for National Day of Korea, Lee explained that since 2020, the International Cooperation Agency of his country promotes with the PMA projects “to strengthen food supply systems” in the Cuban East.
This initiative will be extended for another five years, as agreed recently, he added.
The diplomat said that Seoul also collaborates with the United Nations Childhood Fund (UNICEF) in maternal-infantile nutrition programs in Cuba, as well as with the World Health Organization (WHO) in sending medical supplies to the Caribbean country.
In addition, South Korea carries out training in transport, biopharmacy and civil engineering on the island, while driving an exchange of knowledge with Havana in environmental management, especially in the fight against plastic pollution, according to Pl.
In the coming months, both countries will work in the Intercareías Political Consultations mechanism, the negotiation of an investment agreement and the possible creation of a joint economic commission, adds the news office.
South Korea hopes to obtain economic benefits in Cuba, “an unspecified market”
“Only the beginning”
To all of the above, an impulse is joined in cultural cooperation – which includes a memorandum of understanding between the national libraries of the two nations – as well as the formalization of the teaching of the Korean language in Cuba.
In his words, Ambassador Lee considered that “the Cuban people have immense potential” and hoped that Seoul and Havana will carry out a “prosperous and mutually beneficial” relationship.
About the cooperation projects outlined, the diplomat said that “this is only the beginning.”
The diplomatic links between South Korea and Cuba were broken since 1959, mainly because of the relationship between the island and North Korea, but in February 2024 both nations surprised with the announcement of the restoration of their diplomatic ties.
Almost a year later the Asian country officially opened its embassy and has been reinforcing its presence in Cuba, with actions, projects and events such as the K-Culture Havana Festival.
