Agricultural Minister-Counselor Ron Verdonk at US Embassy in Korea Visited KREI

Minister Counselor for Agriculture Ron Verdonk and persons concerned at the United States Embassy in Korea visited the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI) and discussed ways for fruitful exchange and cooperation in the agricultural and rural sector between KREI and the US Embassy with KREI President Kim Changgil on April 12.

In particular, participants from the two institutions discussed the negotiations for the revision of the Korea-US FTA, damage to Korea’s agriculture and livestock sector and the worsening of the trade of balance due to the FTA, KREI’s KAPEX (Korean Agricultural Policy Experiences for Food Security) program, research on inter-Korean agricultural cooperation and so on.

President Kim said, “This year, we at KREI are conducting research projects with KREI’s 40th anniversary as an opportunity to make a leap forward.” He emphasized that he would lead KREI to become an international research institute through the signing of MOUs and joint research with foreign institutions including international organizations. The Korea Rural Economic Institute’s Center for International Agricultural Partnership (CIAP) visited the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Laos, and Mongolia’s Khalkhgol Project Group on Feb. 6, 12, and 21 respectively, and signed records of discussion (ROD) for implementing the KAPEX (Korean Agricultural Policy Experiences for Food Security) program.