About a dozen government officials from Asian and African countries completed a two-week training program Saturday that focused on economic development strategies, cultural exchange and networking.

Sponsored by the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, in cooperation with provincial and city governments and foreign embassies, the participants from six nations, including Ethiopia, Malaysia and the Philippines, arrived on Oct. 20 for two weeks of training. The program included three days of in-class sessions, meetings with corporate executives and technicians and on-site visits around the country.

“The program is really about capacity building and experience sharing,” said Ethiopian Ambassador to South Korea Abdetta Dibaba. “This program will help us learn how South Korea was able to develop so fast and in a short period of time, how they did it, and the factors contributing to their success.”

Korea International Cooperation Agency sponsored 194 government officials in 12 sessions from 2001 to 2011. Other ministries have been tasked with the program since last year.

The participants were by and large mid-level government officials. They made on-site visits to manufacturing plants and production facilities in Seoul, North Jeolla Province’s Jeonju and Sejong Administrative City. They also traveled to Pohang Iron and Steel Company in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.

By Philip Iglauer (ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)