[DigitalToday reporter Chi-gyu Hwang (황치규)] The Korea AI and Software Industry Association (KOSA) held a meeting on Tuesday with the Office for Government Policy Coordination to discuss ways to promote ODA using AI. The meeting took place at the association's Universe Room in Songpa district, Seoul.

The meeting was arranged to explore ways to use domestic artificial intelligence technology to address development challenges in recipient countries, while also linking official development assistance projects to overseas expansion and business growth for domestic AI companies.

Attendees included Jin-nam Kim (김진남), head of the International Development Cooperation Headquarters at the Office for Government Policy Coordination, and Jun-hee Cho (조준희), chairman of KOSA. Participants also included members of the National AI Strategy Committee (Industrial AX and Ecosystem Subcommittee), executives from 10 domestic AI, software and cloud companies, and officials from KOICA and the Export-Import Bank of Korea.

Participants shared approaches for using AI to address problems in recipient countries. They also exchanged views on structural improvements to link ODA projects with companies' overseas expansion, and on policy and institutional tasks to support broader rollout and commercialization after pilot projects.

Jun-hee Cho, chairman of KOSA, said AI-based ODA is an important form of cooperation that can solve practical problems in aid-recipient countries while also enabling mutual benefit and shared growth among participants. He said the association would strengthen its linking role so sustainable outcomes can be created in the international development cooperation field through a cooperative structure involving the government, public institutions and companies.