The North Korea Trade Capacity Project wants to address the need for
long - term development assistance in North Korea. Its broad objective
can be divided into three distinct aspects.
Capacity building in North Korea should first of all contribute to the
general purpose of promoting peace and reconciliation on the Korean peninsula
as the only road to progress. A forum for dialogue and cooperation can
build confidence and trust, a key factor to foster mutual understanding
and create possibilities for further cooperation. Engaging in partnership
should help to improve relations between the European Union and the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea. Reinforcing ties would thus allow the EU
to gain greater influence as a trusted and reliable economic and political
actor in the region.
Moreover, it is in the interest of the project to provide a sustainable
approach to the creation of viable opportunities for economic and social
development in North Korea. Reducing institutional shortcomings and investing
in human resources development of business intermediary and trade promotion
organisations should give an impetus for economic reform and innovation.
This will help to integrate the North Korean economy into the world economic
system.
Following this logic, another aspect of the project's overall objectives
is to envisage a general improvement in the living conditions of the
North Korean population. Implementation of measures to promote business
intermediaries proposed by seminars should produce more business and
thus employment opportunities. Therefore in the long - run it is hoped
to enhance chances to combat poverty, while seminars should also try
to raise awareness about workers' rights and environmental protection.
As far as a more narrow definition of the project objectives is concerned,
the emphasis lies on institutional capacity building to increase the
potential of North Korean trade and business promotion institutions.
Imparting knowledge about topics ranging from foreign trade regulations
and international business practices to improvement of services, should
serve the purpose of strengthening local expertise and competence in
these areas. This should happen not only in existing business promotion
organisations like the Pyongyang Chamber of Commerce for example, but
also enable project partner PIINTEC to set up and to provide training
for new individual businesses and business intermediaries, where required.
In addition with its first three seminars the project should reach out
to North Korean academic institutions, where the need for economic know - how
is extremely evident and important due to their high multiplication potential.
However, to the largest extend the use of acquired knowledge and new
insights should benefit DPRK business intermediary organisations. As
an important prerequisite for economic development these organisations
will enable the country to help itself in building up trade and business
relations and thus facilitate the gradual opening of the North Korean
economy. Enhanced North Korean export capabilities and foreign investment
prospects will boost the amount of economic exchanges between the two
sides and allow European businesses to lead the way on foreign trade
with North Korea. |
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