KSP ODA Recipient Country Guideline Overview (2024–25)
The Knowledge Sharing Program (KSP) is a Ministry of Economy and Finance-led ODA initiative that shares Korea's economic development experience with developing countries. It systematizes Korea's economic and industrial development experience from 1962 to 2020 for use in strengthening recipient countries' policy capacity. The 2024–25 guideline outlines policy advisory sectors, application procedures, evaluation criteria, and participation methods for Korean institutions — covering ODA recipient countries including Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is a KSP priority partner country, with 3–5 policy advisory projects conducted annually. The key changes in the 2024–25 guideline are: ① strengthened EIPP economic zone-linked advisory, ② priority designation of digital transformation and smart infrastructure sectors, and ③ establishment of a new private sector participation channel. KSP advisory outcomes form a virtuous cycle, flowing into subsequent EDCF (Economic Development Cooperation Fund) loans and corporate contracts.
Priority Advisory Sectors for Bangladesh (2024–25)
The priority sectors designated for Bangladesh in the 2024–25 guideline are economic zone management, energy policy, digital transformation, SME development, and customs modernization. These were identified by mapping Bangladesh's ERD (Economic Relations Division) official requests against Korea's comparative advantages. Strengthening competitiveness in preparation for LDC graduation is the common objective across all advisory tracks.
| Sector | Recipient Agency | Korean Lead Institution | Budget | Duration | Follow-on Linkage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economic Zone Management and Upgrading | BEZA | KDI / KICOX | $1.5M | 18 months | EIPP Year 3 launch |
| Energy Policy and Transition | BPDB / PGCB | Korea Energy Economics Institute | $1.0M | 12 months | EDCF power grid loan |
| Digital Transformation and E-Government | ICT Division / a2i | NIA / KEIT | $0.8M | 12 months | Smart BD 2041 linkage |
| SME Development and Technology Transfer | SME Foundation | Korea SME Research Institute | $0.5M | 12 months | Private sector linkage projects |
| Customs Modernization and AEO Introduction | NBR | Korea Customs / KCTDI | $0.7M | 12 months | WCO standard implementation |
| Health Infrastructure Policy | DGHS | NHIS / HIRA | $0.6M | 12 months | World Bank health project linkage |
Application Process: Two-Track Operation
KSP operates under two tracks: recipient country government requests (Top-Down) and Korean institution proposals (Bottom-Up). For Bangladesh, formal requests through ERD are the standard route; Korean institutions proposing independently require prior review by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. From 2024, a "public-private partnership" track has been added, enabling private companies to co-propose projects with public research institutions.
Four Evaluation Criteria and Bonus Factors
KSP project selection is evaluated on four criteria: recipient country demand alignment (30%), transferability of Korean experience (25%), policy impact (25%), and project feasibility (20%). For Bangladesh projects, linkage with existing cooperation programs such as EIPP and EDCF earns bonus points. Private sector participation reflects positively on the "feasibility" criterion.
Eligible Korean Institutions and Roles
| Institution | Expertise | Primary Role | Participation Type | Contact Department |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KDI (Korea Development Institute) | Economic policy, industrial parks | Lead research, policy advisory | Lead institution | KSP Project Team |
| KICOX (Korea Industrial Complex Corp.) | Economic zones, industrial parks | SEZ design and operations advisory | Partner institution | Global Cooperation Division |
| Korea Energy Economics Institute | Power, energy | Energy policy, renewables advisory | Partner institution | International Cooperation Team |
| NIA (National Information Society Agency) | Digital government, ICT | E-government implementation | Partner institution | International Cooperation Office |
| Korea Customs / KCTDI | Trade, customs | AEO system, customs modernization | Partner institution | International Customs Team |
| Private Firms (New Channel) | Technology, solutions | Demonstration and technology transfer | Joint participant | Apply through KDI |
Key Bangladesh KSP Outcomes and Reference Cases
| Project | Year | Recipient Agency | Key Outcome | Follow-on Linkage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-Government Enhancement | 2018–19 | ICT Division | Electronic civil service system design adopted | KEIT technology transfer $2M |
| BEZA Operational Capacity | 2020–21 | BEZA | Economic zone OWS introduced | Foundation for EIPP launch |
| Pharmaceutical Regulation Modernization | 2021–22 | DGDA | GMP certification standards enacted | 3 Korean pharma firms entered |
| Customs AEO Introduction | 2022–23 | NBR | AEO pilot with 50 companies | 4-day customs clearance reduction |
| Agricultural Value-Adding | 2023–24 | DAE | Agricultural cluster policy designed | 2 agri-food firms connected |