S. Korea to provide US$200 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine this year
SEOUL, April 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will administer US$200 million in humanitarian assistance for Ukraine this year as part of its pledged aid package worth $2.3 billion for its recovery efforts following its war with Russia, Seoul's finance minister has said.
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok presented the plan during the Ukraine roundtable held in Washington on Wednesday (U.S. time), as President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed to provide an additional $2.3 billion in aid for Ukraine during the Group of 20 (G20) summit in New Delhi in September 2023.
Choi said the Seoul government plans to provide the initial $200 million this year in the form of humanitarian aid for responses to emergency needs in Ukraine, and the remaining $2.1 billion will be administered as long-term, low-interest loans through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) starting in 2025, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Detailed recovery and reconstruction projects under the EDCF program will be decided after close consultations, Choi added.
South Korea launched the EDCF program in 1987 with the purpose of supporting economic and social infrastructure projects in developing countries.
South Korea also will donate $50 million each to the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for their projects to help Ukraine, the ministry said.
Meanwhile, Choi met with Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) President Ilan Goldfajn in Washington on Wednesday and discussed ways of boosting cooperation between South Korea and the organization.
Choi voiced support for IDB Invest's business model and pledged South Korea will provide a capital increase of $150 million for the entity.
IDB Invest, a private sector arm of the IDB, recently presented a new business model that includes a capital increase of $3.5 billion, which is meant to increase its investments and mobilize capital from the private sector for development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the organization.
Choi is in Washington for a trilateral ministerial meeting with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, and to attend a gathering of finance ministers and central bank deputies of the G20 nations this week.
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
(3rd LD) Russia sent more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to N. Korea in March: White House
-
Anti-terrorism alert raised for 5 overseas S. Korean diplomatic missions
-
S. Korean military shoots down unidentified balloon near western maritime border in March
-
U.S. releases new cybersecurity advisory against N.K.-linked cyber incursion group
-
N. Korean economic delegation returns from Iran amid suspected military ties
-
Only 34 pct of S. Korean elites favor nuclearization: CSIS poll
-
Yoon's approval rating falls for 3 weeks straight to 30.2 pct
-
Disagreement over ambassador, presidential aide opens up fresh rift between Yoon, PPP leader
-
Political parties ramp up campaign efforts amid shifting opinion polls
-
(News Focus) U.S. focus on 'interim' steps with N. Korea raises questions about policy direction