SEOUL, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korea on Thursday announced it will raise its tariff-free import quota on products made in the poorest countries in the world over coming years.

    As part of its efforts to help these countries develop their economy, the government plans to raise the proportion of tariff-free imports by 5 percentage points from the current 80 percent to 85 percent in 2010, and increase another 5 percentage points to 90 percent in 2011 and to 95 percent in 2012, according to the Ministry of Strategy and Finance.

    The country's Yonhap News Agency said thanks to the move, there will be an additional 251 different products made by 49 poorest countries in the world can enter South Korea without paying duties in 2010 alone.

    The tariff-free move, which first started in 1997, will cover most manufactured goods, but not include agricultural products because the country has to protect local producers, the ministry said.

    Meanwhile, the ministry said the government also will increase its assistance, via international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the African Development Bank, to help poor countries from 15.4 billion won (1 U.S. dollar amount some 1,155 won) this year to 50.4 billion won next year. 　

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