True to its commitment to utilizing its knowledge-sharing assets, KDI School has begun hosting regular Development Talks Series in cooperation with the KDI School Alumni from Korea's major ODA partner countries. Centered on the theme "Emerging Perspectives in Development Cooperation," the webinar series aims to provide a platform to engage in in-depth discussions and share insights on enhancing connectivity and bolstering cooperation among countries. Furthermore, it also brings to the foremost pressing issues that need to be addressed as well as current initiatives and strategies being undertaken in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The roster of distinguished speakers at the 2021 Development Talks Series includes some of KDI School's most prolific alumni who serve in the government or other relevant sectors, and top development experts from international organizations such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. The Honorable Ambassadors from the respective countries have also graced the sessions with their presence and extended their congratulatory remarks.

Associate Dean of the Office of Development Research and International Cooperation at KDI School, Professor Wook Sohn delivered the opening remarks. He emphasized how this initiative aligns with KDI School's mission of cultivating global leaders who can cope with the rapidly changing international environment. Each session was available for live streaming on two platforms – Zoom and Youtube; and for the benefit of the participants, simultaneous interpretations were offered in both English and Korean.

The Development Talks Series was officially launched in May 2021, with Colombia as the first country in focus. Topics in this session revolved around digital transformation and entrepreneurship, and the status of education and the private sector during the COVID-19.

His Excellency Juan Carlos Caiza Rosero, the Ambassador of Colombia emphasized the need for innovative solutions and the development of innovative tools to overcome difficulties. As the second most biodiverse country in the world, Colombia positions itself as a leader in the promotion of sustainable development and the use of clean energy. Currently, Colombia is working on 4 MOUs with Korea to encourage the exchange of knowledge and technologies to strengthen capacities and transition to emerging markets.

Mr. Francisco Noguera, the President of INNPULSA Colombia, discussed how entrepreneurship is a critical pillar in closing existing social gaps. He also revealed that Colombia looks up to Korea with regard to its system that bridges business and sustainability. The biggest takeaway from this is that countries should continuously find ways to strengthen their capabilities to cooperate on mutual challenges.

The second presenter, Mr. Gabriel Demombynes, a Program Leader for Human Development at the World Bank, shared the learning impact of COVID-19 in Colombia. Learning loss across Latin America has become a growing problem, and yet public concern on the issue remains limited. In order to address the issue, a planned evaluation of a tutoring program will be implemented.

Lastly, Mr. Jose Duarte, Executive Director at the Beverage Industry Chamber of the National Business Association in Colombia, shared that despite being hit by the COVID-19, companies in the beverage industry launched initiatives to strengthen local stores and improve their delivery directly to consumers. This was achieved through the creation of an online grocery e-commerce platform and a one-stop phone line service.

The second session of the Development Talks Series was held in July, featuring the world's largest island country, Indonesia. In this session, the main topics were cooperation, digital partnerships, and Indonesia's COVID-19 recovery policy.

The session opened with the remarks of His Excellency Umar Hadi, the Indonesian Ambassador to Korea. He elaborated on the transformative quality of cooperation between countries and how it is integral to widen areas for improved cooperation and elevate partnerships. Within the context of the pandemic, he stated that development cooperation should stay relevant by seizing the momentum of the post-pandemic world, providing support for more joint R&D, and strengthening partnerships in the global value chain.

The first presenter, Mr. La Ode Nazaruddin, Policy Analyst at the Ministry of Industry in Indonesia, talked about the subregion of Melanesia and why it is imperative to reconfigure its geopolitical integration to boost trade and economic development. He further emphasized how Korea is instrumental in building capacity and enabling subregional cooperation.

Ms. Cyn-Young Park, a Director at the Asian Development Bank, extensively discussed digital transformation and how digital platforms promote inclusion, innovation, and efficiency. Despite the risks and challenges, there is a call for strengthened ASEAN-Korea cooperation to maximize digital potentials, in the areas of FinTech and cybersecurity, among others, for inclusive growth.

The last presenter, Mr. Abdul Aziz, Data Analyst at the Ministry of Home Affairs, shared insights on Indonesia's COVID-19 Recovery Policy from the perspective of Local Finance. The national policy implemented was a reallocation, refocusing, and re-rationalization of the local budget. There is much to be learned from the Indonesian government's quick response by prioritizing health and social assistance programs.

The third session of the Development Talks Series convened last month, with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the spotlight. The general theme of this session is the economic status of Pakistan a year after COVID-19 and its path to economic recovery.

Her Excellency Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the Pakistan Ambassador to Korea, urged for holistic and novel approaches to foster regional integration and global governance in her opening remarks. She also hopes that Korea and Pakistan can build on their long history of development engagements and create new opportunities for mutual growth and prosperity.

Principal and Dean at the National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Dr. Ashfaque Hasan Khan, gave an in-depth outlook on Pakistan's economic initiatives in the current economic scenario. He argued that the pandemic has brought about considerable positive effects, contrary to the general belief that the COVID-19 adversely affected the economy.The economy further supported this contention grew in the past year and is on its way to recovery.

Mr. Derek Hung Chiat Chen, Senior Economist at the World Bank, noted that even with the 4th wave of COVID-19 in Pakistan, its development indicators, including community mobility, industry activity, and GDP growth estimates, turned out better than expected. The second half of his presentation discussed the negative impact of the pandemic on Pakistan's private sector.