Potential Cooperation in the implementation of Saemaul Undong program in Thai Nguyen

The Saemaul Undong movement was a community-driven development program of the Republic of Korea in the 1970s. The movement contributed to improved community wellbeing in rural communities through agricultural production, household income, village life, communal empowerment and regeneration, and women's participation. Saemaul new rural program is funded by Saemaul Global Fund of Gyeongsangbuk province, Korea with the guarantee of KOICA. Aiming at supporting the development of community in rural areas based on the model of New Rural Development Movement of Korea (Saemaul Undong New Village), in 2014, To Hamlet, Phuong Tien Commune (Dinh Hoa District) was selected to propose KOICA to help and send the Korean volunteers to support the implementation of “Saemaul Undong New Village” model. With the help of KOICA as well as the direct involvement of the Korean volunteers and local people in planning the new village implementation, To Hamlet has had many positive changes. KOICA has funded the construction of the rural road with level C and the length of 876m in To Hamlet; the cultural house meeting standards; the implementation of the goat bank project; training the cultivation and breeding techniques; the propoganda of Saemaul spirit (self-reliance, hard working, cooperation); planning the rural, ect. The SMU program will be expanded to Phu Luong District, Thai Nguyen Province.

At the meeting, Dr. Nguyen Huu Tho – Director of Research & International Affairs Office presented an introduction to TUAF with a focus on the scientific research activities, international cooperation especially the international projects in collaboration with TUAF foreign partners. Two sides discussed the cooperation possibility on building project schedule as well as providing technical experts in the field of agricultural technology to support the project implementation.TUAF and SMU agreed to exchange the specific activities through the SMU Representative Office located in Ho Chi Minh City.

Some pictures of the meeting:

Duong Huong