FM Sharma asks Korea to open EPS

Kathmandu, July 28

Finance Minister (FM) Janardan Sharma has urged Ambassador of South Korea to Nepal Park Chong-suk to facilitate in taking the youth who have passed the Korean language test but have not got the opportunity to go to Korea for work.

Park paid a courtesy call on the FM on Wednesday.

Minister Sharma assured the ambassador that the government would immediately begin the process that was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic and requested him to help in initiating the process by the Korean side as well.

“Thousands of youth who have passed Korean language under the EPS system are unemployed. I hope that the issue would be resolved at the earliest,” said FM Sharma.

In response, Ambassador Park said that he would take initiative to start the EPS process that was halted due to the pandemic.

He stated that the Korean employers are happy with the hard work and the process of sending workers who have passed the language test and waiting to fly to Korea.

FM Sharma informed the Ambassador that the Government of Nepal had accorded top priority to vaccines against COVID-19 and expressed his hope for necessary support from Korean people.

He also expressed gratitude for Korean support in education, health and technology. Korea has constructed well-facilitated hospitals in Thimi in Bhaktapur, Nuwakot, Dhangadhi and Mugu, and has established a polytechnic college in Bardibas of Mahottari district.

During the call, Park has inquired about the delay in the construction of Upper Trishuli – 1 Hydroelectricity Project. He has expressed concerns about the rising cost of the project due to the sluggish progress. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 29 July 2021.