'COVID-19' Response Inter-Ministerial TF 1st Meeting... Discussion on Supporting Overseas Expansion of Quarantine Supplies

Strengthening Domestic Diagnostic Capabilities
Exploring Active Contribution Measures to International COVID-19 Response Efforts

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the afternoon of the 26th that it held the '1st Meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Task Force (TF) for Supporting the Overseas Expansion of COVID-19 Quarantine Supplies.'

The meeting was chaired by Yoon Kang-hyun, Economic Coordinator of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and attended by officials from related ministries and agencies including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).

The Inter-Ministerial TF for Supporting the Overseas Expansion of COVID-19 Quarantine Supplies was established in response to the recent increase in requests and inquiries from overseas regarding our quarantine supplies. It focuses on diagnostic kits, which have received concentrated support requests and for which we have confirmed available support capacity, to △ assess the capacity for overseas support based on domestic supply and demand conditions and △ discuss support measures tailored to the situations of target countries.

At the first meeting, discussions were held on △ sharing the status of requests by country △ support measures for diagnostic kits for effective humanitarian aid △ checking domestic supply and demand status △ identifying possible support methods by each ministry △ resolving corporate difficulties related to transportation and customs clearance, and also on establishing an effective support system going forward.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "The recent increase in demand for our quarantine supplies such as diagnostic kits reflects not only the international evaluation of the technical excellence of our diagnostic kits themselves but also the trust of foreign countries and international organizations in Korea’s quarantine system and its achievements to date." He added, "Our government plans to take a leading role in international cooperation efforts to respond to COVID-19 after its global spread by expanding the overseas expansion of diagnostic kits and support to international organizations such as the UN through this TF."