Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) will provide US$12.8 million to establish National Institute of Advanced Practice Nurses (NIAPN) in Bangladesh.
To this effect, an agreement was signed between the KOICA and the Economic Relations Division (ERD) at the ERD Conference Room here, a KOICA statement said.
During the visit of Prime Minister Seikh Hasina to Korea in May 2010, the Korea and the Bangladesh governments jointly initiated the project. 
Resident Representative of KOICA Bangladesh Office Kim Bok-Hee, Joint Secretary of ERD Mohammed Asif-uz-Zaman and Joint Chief of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Niru Shamsun Nahar singed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.
The main objective of the project is to enhance the teaching capacity of nurse- teachers by establishing the institute to enhance health services to the people. 
In addition to the construction of training centre and hostel facilities, KOICA will also provide necessary education equipments and furniture, dispatch Korean experts for technical guidance, and develop modules. 
Under the agreement, KOICA will also invite 58 Bangladeshi nurse-teachers, including three nurses for PhD courses in Korea to receive training on modern nursing education systems. 
The project will establish a Community Based Nursing Center at Mugdapara Hospital. This five- year project will be jointly implemented by KOICA and the Directorate of Nursing Services (DNS).
The Resident Representative of KOICA Bangladesh Office expects the project will support nurses in Bangladesh in using modern technology and that the project will also produce skilled manpower in order to meet the demands of the job market, both domestically and internationally. 
BBN/SSR/AD-24Dec12-11:01 am (BST0