Overview of the KSP Economic Development Experience Sharing Program
The KSP, or Knowledge Sharing Program, is a major economic cooperation initiative of the Korean government, led by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and implemented by the Korea Development Institute (KDI). Its core mission is to systematically transfer Korean development policy expertise and policy instruments to developing countries, and since its launch in 2004, it has delivered more than 700 advisory projects across 80 countries.
Bangladesh has been a key partner of KSP since 2008, with two to three advisory projects per year. Major advisory areas include industrial policy, export promotion, financial sector reform, ICT policy, urban planning, and environmental management. In each case, implementation is strengthened through cooperation with KOTRA, KOICA, and Korea Exim Bank, so outputs are designed to convert into concrete projects. The KSP brochure introduces the program's full operating model and performance in both Korean and English.
KSP Program Structure and Types
The KSP is organized into three types. First, bilateral KSP provides customized policy advisory in response to specific requests from partner governments. A Korean expert team conducts field assessments, policy research, workshops, and a final report over one year. Second, multilateral KSP undertakes policy studies together with international organizations such as ADB, the World Bank, and IADB. Third, KOTRA KSP is a trade-and-industry focused development strategy program; in Bangladesh, it has advised on EPZ operations, export diversification, and investment attraction strategies. Depending on category, the program handles around 20 to 30 cases per year, and Bangladesh is frequently selected under both bilateral and KOTRA KSP tracks.
| Type | Lead Agency | Characteristics | Annual Volume | Bangladesh | Budget per Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilateral KSP | KDI | Tailored policy advisory | 20-25 cases | 1-2 cases/year | $200-300K |
| Multilateral KSP | KDI+International institutions | Joint research with ADB/WB | 5-8 cases | 0-1 cases/year | $300-500K |
| KOTRA KSP | KOTRA | Industry and trade specialization | 15-20 cases | 1-2 cases/year | $150-250K |
| Modular KSP | KDI | Short-cycle advisory | 10-15 cases | 0-1 cases/year | $50-100K |
| KSP-WB | KDI+WB | World Bank collaboration | 3-5 cases | 0-1 cases/year | $200-400K |
| Total | — | — | 55-75 cases | 2-5 cases/year | — |
Bangladesh KSP Application Cases
In Bangladesh, one of the most successful KSP cases has been the modernization of EPZ operations. In 2012, Korea transferred EPZ management practices from Masan and Iri EPZs to Bangladesh' BEPZA, significantly improving processing speed. The result reduced enterprise registration and clearance time from 30 days to 7 days and introduced a one-stop service model. This fed directly into the establishment of BEZA in 2015 and the broader reform of economic zone policy, ultimately supporting Korean firm discussions on Mirsarai. The 2014 ICT master plan advisory also became the core architecture of Bangladesh' Digital Bangladesh policy and prepared the ground for Korean ICT firm entry. Overall, Bangladesh shows a strong feedback loop: KSP advisory → policy formulation → concrete project opportunities.
Experience Transfer Mechanism and Policy Implications
The KSP brochure presents a complete view of Korea's economic development experience sharing framework and outcomes. Bangladesh has been one of the closest partner countries, receiving guidance in industrial policy, ICT, and urban infrastructure since 2008. The EPZ modernization example demonstrates the strongest evidence of impact: the EPZ operational upgrade to BEZA and eventually to the Mirsarai Korean zone created a ten-year policy-to-project pipeline. For Korea, this demonstrates a practical model—policy advisory to KSP, then to ADB/WB TA, and finally to ODA-linked implementation and corporate opportunities. The next productivity gains will require stronger post-project monitoring and local capacity building.