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Latin American and Caribbean countries have long struggled to become fully developed nations. And Korea has long been noted for developing from one of the world's poorest nations after the 1950s Korean War to among the world's top 20 richest today.
The head of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean hopes Korea, which has just become a member, can use its experience to bring new opportunities for economic and social development to the region.
In a welcoming ceremony held at the commission's headquarters in Santiago, Chile, Executive Secretary Jose Luis Machinea said he hopes Korea's entry to the commission will help develop small and mid-size businesses as well as information and communications technology in the region.
Meanwhile, Korean Ambassador to Chile Kee Hyun-seo expressed Korea's will to share its economic development experience with its Latin American and Caribbean partners and said Korea will work to help bring prosperity in the region.
With Korea joining in, the commission hopes to promote trade and investment between Asian and Latin American countries. Korea was the first Asian country to sign a free trade agreement with a South American nation Chile in 2003.
The commission says Korean exports to Latin America have grown about 20 percent every year and hopes that trade and investment between Korea and Latin America will keep growing.
Arirang News
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