Connecting Hearts, Building a Sustainable Future Together – KOICA Alumni Association in Tunisia (KAAT) Hosts Landmark Event
Date: Tuesday evening, [insert date if known]
Venue: Mövenpick Hotel du Lac 1, Tunis
The KOICA Alumni Association in Tunisia (KAAT), in partnership with the KOICA office in Tunisia, organized an event titled “Connecting Hearts, Building a Sustainable Future Together.” The gathering brought together public decision‑makers, experts, and private‑sector actors for a Tunisian‑Korean dialogue on climate change and food‑security challenges.
Key Attendees
| Name | Position | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| His Excellency Lee Taewon | Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Tunisia | Embassy of Korea |
| Nam Il‑woo | Director, KOICA Office in Tunisia | KOICA |
| Ikram Ben Zaied | President, KAAT | KOAT |
| Fayçal Trifa | President‑CEO | Société Tunisienne de l’Électricité et du Gaz (STEG) |
| Ahmed El Kamel | President | Office of Topography and Cadastre |
| Zohra Lili Chabaane | President | Institute of Agricultural Research and Higher Education (IRESA) |
| Mehdi Mahjoub | General Director | Hyundai Tunisia |
| Moncef Baati | Former Tunisian Ambassador to the Republic of Korea | — |
| … | … | … |
Representatives from the Tunisian‑Korean Chamber of Commerce, the Ministries of Agriculture and Foreign Affairs, and other partner institutions also participated.
Opening Remarks – Ambassador Lee Taewon
Ambassador Lee highlighted the “Smart Agriculture” project, a joint initiative with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries. He described it as a concrete illustration of the two countries’ shared commitment:
- Capacity building goes beyond training – it drives a structural transformation of agriculture in pilot sites.
- By merging innovation, optimized water‑resource management, and Korean know‑how, the project fosters a modern, competitive, and sustainable farming model.
- Korea reaffirmed its willingness to share expertise in agricultural innovation and digitalisation to deepen cooperation with Tunisia.
KOICA’s Perspective – Nam Il‑woo
Nam praised the vitality of the Tunisian alumni network of the CIAT (Capacity Improvement and Advancement for Tomorrow) programme. She emphasized:
- KAAT is a key driver of cooperation values and development between Korea and Tunisia.
- Climate challenges demand a deep transformation of agricultural systems.
- Promoting resilient, smart, and technologically integrated agriculture is essential for food‑security guarantees.
KAAT President – Ikram Ben Zaied
Ikram expressed gratitude to KOICA for its continuous support and underscored the association’s growing role in:
- Strengthening the Tunisian‑Korean partnership.
- Facilitating expertise exchange among alumni of Korean training programmes.
Spotlight on the CIAT Training Programme
The CIAT programme, administered by the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), is a strategic lever for international cooperation. It aims to:
- Upgrade skills and institutional capacity of public‑sector cadres in partner countries.
- Enable Tunisian experts to adapt advanced Korean technologies—especially in smart irrigation and agricultural data management—to local realities.
Programme Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Flexibility | Short, intensive technical sessions to full‑scale Master’s or Doctoral tracks. |
| Thematic Coverage | Public administration, digital transformation, sustainable development, resilient agriculture, innovation, and Tunisian‑specific sustainability. |
| Alumni Example | Radhouen Chamroukhi, senior engineer at the Ministry of Industry and KOICA‑INU Master’s alumnus, shared how Korea turns structural constraints into innovation engines. |
Central Presentation – “Smart Agriculture Facing Climate Change to Boost Productivity in Tunisia (ClimAT)”
Presented by Mohamed Hassan, Senior Programme Officer, KOICA, the ClimAT project received strong interest:
- Budget: USD 13.5 million (2026‑2032).
- Goal: Raise agricultural productivity by strengthening climate‑resilient technologies and policies.
Main Components
- Institutional capacity building and R&D support in collaboration with IRESA.
- Three pilot farms (Bizerte, Kairouan, Nabeul) equipped with smart‑farm technologies, in partnership with the Office of State Lands (OTD).
- Training programmes for technicians from the Agricultural Extension and Training Agency (AVFA), CRDA staff, and smallholder farmers.
National Food‑Security Vision
Chamseddine El Harrabi, representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and coordinator of the sectoral climate‑change committee, outlined Tunisia’s strategic roadmap to enhance agricultural resilience against climatic hazards.
Closing Session – Open Dialogue
The event concluded with an open‑exchange session that sparked new cooperation ideas among:
- Public institutions
- Research centres
- Private enterprises
Cultural Highlights
Beyond technical discussions, the evening celebrated the cultural dimension of Tunisian‑Korean partnership:
- An interactive showcase of the hanbok, Korea’s traditional attire.
- A tasting session blending Tunisian and Korean specialties, enjoyed in a convivial atmosphere during Ramadan.
Takeaway
Through this gathering, KOICA and KAAT reaffirmed their role as a bridge between Tunis and Seoul, advancing bilateral cooperation focused on innovation, sustainability, and agricultural resilience.
About KOICA
The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), established in 1991 by South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is a government agency dedicated to Official Development Assistance (ODA). Its mission is to improve the effectiveness of South Korea’s aid programmes through bilateral grant projects and technical‑cooperation initiatives.
- Presence: Active in 47 countries.
- Expertise: Offers a rich, authentic experience of South Korea’s economic development model.
KOICA Tunisia – Contact Information
- Website: https://koica.go.kr/sites/tun_na/index.do
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/koicatunisia
- Press Contact: Intissar Hafsi – KOICA Tunisia
- Mobile: +216 586 45383
- Email: intissar.hafsi@gmail.com
This article has been translated and reformatted for an English‑speaking audience while preserving the original information and tone.
