Harare — SOUTH Korea ambassador to Zimbabwe Jae-hack Oh says Zimbabwe is eligible for a US$200 million 'East Asia Climate Partnership', an initiative which the country came up with to help developing countries to cope with climate change.

He said the project would target mainly areas of new and renewable projects and other greehouse gas mitigation projects through efficient use of energy.

The Korean envoy said the Korean Development Assistance Agency was considering a green project in Zimbabwe, which was aimed at assisting solar water heating in the public sector of Zimbabwe.

The partnership programme was launched by South Korean president Lee Myung-bac last year and will run until 2012.

"While the Korean government has been eager to share our successful economic experience with African countries, we are also seeking for a new partnerships with African countries for 'Low Carbon Green Growth' as a new paradigm shift for economic development.

"When it comes to climate change and energy issues, Korea has decided to be an early mover and I hope Zimbabwe would be our partner in efforts to achieve green growth," said the ambassador.

The Korean Government has set low carbon green growth as a national vision that will take the Asian country into the next 60 years.

It seeks to break the conflicting nature of "green" and "growth" and achieve economic growth while maintaining environmental integrity.

Korea will promote economic activities based on three key principles of green growth that are maintaining productive economic activities while minimising the use of energy and resources.

It will also be based on minimising environmental pressure with every use of energy and resources while making investments on environment a driver for economic growth.

Korea has achieved tremendous growth over the past 60 years.

Torn apart by war and suffering from absolute poverty, Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world. Despite a late start in industrialisation, it is now the 12th largest economy in the world and is the worlds' leader in a number of key industries.

However, during the development, Korea's resource intensive development strategy has taken its toll on the environment and thus the country is seeking for a new and more sustainable path for further development.

With high overseas dependence on energy and relatively low energy efficiency in industries, Ambassador Jae-hack OH said Korea was committed to reform its production and consumption patterns.

"The green growth will facilitate Korea's transition and to a knowledge based economy and bring greater and greener values to its production, being (the) major driver of change in Korea, from economic policies to the people's lifestyle," he said.

Since the vision was proclaimed by the Korean president last year, the government has launched a series of bold green initiatives to help Korea leapfrog into a low carbon society such as establishing comprehensive plan on combating climate change.