Dr. Kyungjin SONG and H.E. Savitri I. Panabokke, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Korea, discussed bilateral cooperation

October 11, 2024 - Dr. Kyungjin SONG met with H.E. Savitri I. Panabokke, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Korea, on October 11 to explore possible collaboration between the two organizations. Ambassador Panabokke expressed her expectation for cooperation with Korea in the areas of smart farming and intellectual property capacity building in Sri Lanka. In addition, she emphasized Sri Lanka's interest in collaborating with Korea, particularly in the field of creative economy, where the Sri Lankan government is focusing on modernizing and marketing the country's traditional handicraft industry to expand into global markets. Ambassador Panabokke also mentioned the importance of promoting Sri Lanka’s fashion industry to create jobs for young people and expressed a desire to collaborate with Korea’s globally well-known fashion industry. Specifically, she brought up the idea of Korea’s support for establishing fashion education and training inst..

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Cybersecurity Facts about the Asia Pacific

It's time to shine a light on the escalating cyber threats confronting MSMEs across Asia and the Pacific. With MSMEs accounting for over 90% of all businesses in APAC — ranging from family-owned enterprises in Indonesia to innovative chip manufacturers in Korea — they play a pivotal role in the economy, employing millions and contributing significantly to GDP. In India alone, these enterprises represent nearly 30% of the national economy. With support from Google.org, we're leading the APAC Cybersecurity Fund in partnership with the CyberPeace Institute and the Global Cyber Alliance. Together, we will equip 300,000 MSMEs and students with the vital skills needed to safeguard against cyber threats, equipping enterprises to navigate an ever-evolving digital landscape. Here are some key insights about cybersecurity in the Asia-Pacific region that may surprise you!

Dr. Kyungjin SONG participates in Global Forum on APEC 2025 Korea: Theme and Priorities as Panel Speaker

October 1, 2024 - Dr. Kyungjin SONG, Country Representative of The Asia Foundation Korea Office, participated as a panel speaker for ‘Global Forum on APEC 2025 Korea: Theme and Priorities’ on September 30. The event was hosted in objective to prioritize key agenda for APEC Summit 2025 Korea. Dr. Song spoke in the session on ‘Sustainable and Inclusive Growth’. She highlighted the following points. ㅇ The Asia Foundation’s strong partnership with APEC since its establishment in 1989, specifically on Innovation and Digitalization, and Sustainable and Inclusive Growth. - Example) women’s economic participation, informal sector, MSMEs ㅇ Calls for strengthened cooperation between The Asia Foundation and APEC on climate change and energy transition, as well as cybersecurity for MSMEs. ㅇ Propose a joint publication to promote the APEC 2025 themes. T..