Korean companies’ growing participation in India’s manufacturing sector to generate economic growth, create livelihood opportunities: Amb Shin Bong-kil

NEW DELHI: Shin Bong-kil, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to India has said the Korean companies’ growing participation in India’s manufacturing sector will generate economic growth and create livelihood opportunities in the country and thus contribute towards meeting the socio-economic needs of the people.

The ambassador said that Korea as an old and true friend will continue to stand by India’s side to support India’s economic transformation with humane face, said the South Korean ambassador Shin Bong-kil while delivering his keynote address during the webinar “Emerging Role of South Korea in Inclusive Growth of India – Saving Lives and Livelihood” on Friday.

The webinar aimed at highlighting the initiatives of the Korean government, corporate entities, and communities towards the social and economic development of India and its people, was organized by Asian Community News (ACN) Network in association with the Jeevitam – livelihood platform. The event also witnessed participating from Korea’s apex industry body Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KOCHAM) and white goods corporate giant and India’s household name LG Electronics India.

The session was moderated by Sanjeev K Ahuja, Editor – Foreign Affairs (Asia), Asian Community News (ACN) Network, India’s fast-growing news wire agency with a key focus on Indo-Asian affairs.

While referring to the worldwide impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ambassador said it has affected the lives of each and every section of the society. However, its impact has been particularly harsh on those who inhabit the margins of society.

He said the crisis like Covid-19 tends to exacerbate the existing socioeconomic inequalities in society.

“I myself watched how the pandemic in India had severely impacted the lives of the migrant workers, the urban poor, and other disadvantaged sections of the society. I was particularly pained to see hundreds of thousands of migrant workers, who walked long distances to reach their homes.”

Ambassador Shin Bong-kil expressed hope that other countries and their business entities which have a presence in India can also play a contributory role in supplementing the Indian government’s efforts.  “In this context, I do see that Korea and its multinational companies in India have the experience and the determination to make their contribution.”

Ambassador Shin Bong-kil said that Korea could help India in realizing the industrial revolution dream and creating livelihood opportunities for the masses.

“India has set the goal to emerge as the next major global manufacturing hub. Korea, as the world’s foremost manufacturing heavyweight, is more than eager to support India’s manufacturing ambitions. I am sure, Korean companies growing participation in India’s manufacturing sector will generate economic growth and create livelihood opportunities in the country and thus contribute towards meeting the socio-economic needs of the people,” said the Ambassador during the webinar that was attended online by over a thousand people from across India and Korea.

India is another home for Korean companies, and they are fully on board to lead India’s manufacturing revolution. Companies such as Samsung and LG are household names in India; Hyundai and Kia automobiles are widely popular.

Korean companies’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) role in India

While sharing the CSR activities undertaken by Korean companies in support of the local communities in their area of cooperation, Ambassador said, I personally attach great importance to Korean companies’ CSR activities in India. The Embassy has been encouraging Korean companies to become dynamic partners in India’s developmental agenda. And, I note with great satisfaction that major Korean companies are actively engaged in contributing to the social and public good in the country.”

Ambassador was all praise for the Korean companies that through their numerous CSR activities, did a commendable job for the welfare and the upliftment of the underprivileged by providing them with services like education, training, healthcare, and shelter.

“I am glad to note that during the Covid-19 pandemic, Korean companies have undertaken several meaningful activities and lent their support to the government of India in its fight against Covid-19. They have made donations to relief funds and donated diagnostic kits, masks, and protection equipment for medical staff in India. They have also distributed food packets in millions to local communities to help them in this uncertain situation.”

Hyundai Motors made large contributions to relief funds, including Rs. 7 Crore to the PM CARES Fund, and supported the local manufacturing of respirators. Kia provided 1 million masks to the people in Andhra Pradesh, where its manufacturing unit is located. LG Electronics sponsored over 1 million meals and provided products like water purifiers, air conditioners, refrigerators, and TVs to 50 hospitals.

Korea’s [#StayStrongCampaign] in India

“We at the Embassy have extended our full support to the Indian government in its fight against the pandemic through the exchange of knowledge and inputs. We launched a social media ‘Stay Strong’ campaign to put up a brave fight in the face of rising COVID-19 infections in India,” said the Ambassador Shin Bong-kil.

Under the banner of this campaign, the Ambassador said Korea joined hands with the non-profit organization Annamrita Foundation, to distribute mid-day meals to more than 4,000 people at hunger shelters.

“I myself and other staff members of the Embassy voluntarily participated in the activity, undeterred of the Covid-19 situation in the city. We partnered up with the NGO Chikitsa Trust to distribute 25,000 face masks to the veterans of the Korean War and the underprivileged community. We also gifted face masks to a cross-section of people with letters expressing our solidarity with the Indian people in the fight against the pandemic. We will continue to extend all possible support to India to win this battle against the pandemic,” Ambassador added.

Learn from Korean experience:

Ambassador said Korea presented some good examples of socio-economic development. Korea’s remarkable transformation from poverty to affluence in a short time, the ‘miracle of the Han River,’ is a model for other countries to follow for poverty reduction and achieving economic growth. Korea’s ‘New Village Movement’ is another great example of how to achieve rural development and alleviate poverty in rural areas.

Moreover, Korea’s success in ensuring universal access to quality education and to affordable healthcare to all its citizens is exemplary and other countries learn from the Korean experiences to ensure inclusive quality education and healthcare to its people. We have been sharing our developmental experience with India through training programs to help India become truly self-reliant.

KOCHAM’s point of view:

While sharing the role of Korean companies in addressing the people’s welfare issues specifically during the pandemic-hit economic situation, Hee-chul Jung, Secretary-General, KOCHAM said during this difficult time, KOCHAM advised members to keep their employees and continue to provide wages. KOCHAM also encouraged members to participate in Prime Minister Modi’s relief fund and many joined including KOCHAM. KOCHAM also worked from home since the lockdown in March, but we continue to pay our office rent and staff wages without delay.

“Now, with unlock phasing of the economic activities, companies with readily available workforce receive more contracts compared with those that had to wait for employees to come back. Many Korean companies went further by making donations of food and Personal Protective Equipments flown in from Korea,” he added.

More Korean investment, More livelihood opportunities:

Hee-Chul Jung said more presence of Korean companies in India would make a difference to the community like the way the major Korean companies created quality jobs, increased household income, and eventually contributed to the livelihood of the society.

“This month, I visited 5 companies that just moved to India and setting up the manufacturing facility. Each factory hires at least two to four thousand employees. Last year I visited the KIA Motors factory located near Penukonda of Andra Pradesh. The factory was impressive, although my eyes caught the luscious green grass encompassing the entire facility. On my second visit, I heard an interesting story about the ecosystem recovering in the region. Now KIA factory is situated right in the middle of Penuconda and Ananthapuramu of Andra Pradesh.”

The area is severely hit by recurring drought and underwent desertification. However, the factory irrigation and gardening seemed habitable for insects. Subsequently, birds and small mammal are making returns. This is another interesting aspect of how industries can contribute to not just livelihood, but even environment restoration, Hee-Chul Jung added.

He also cited the example of a Korean startup making mobile internet assistance for villagers a profit model making a difference in the livelihood of the local community.

“For these reasons KOCHAM wants more Korean presence in India. Think about what a difference in livelihood can be made when India becomes the hub of manufacturing for the World. That is why we ask our members to cooperate to ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Vocal for Local’. The KOCHAM secretariat is making effort to invite as many Korean companies to India as possible,” said Hee-chul Jung.

Jung said Koreans should become like the ancient Biblical character Joseph, an Israelite nomad who went to Egypt, started out as a slave became the highest official serving the Pharaoh, and eventually saving Egypt from a seven-year famine.

Korean conglomerate LG Electronics case in India

In her presentation Neeta Linz, DGM, LG Electronics India presented various CSR activities that included six 6 SDGs out of 17, such as health & hygiene, skill India, Hunger-Free society, Quality Education, Women Empowerment, Environment Sustainability, and other regional CSR activities.

“LG is celebrating its 23^rd year of operations in India and besides fulfilling its responsibilities of a corporate it was also trying to bring meaningful change in people’s lives,” Linz said during her presentation.

Some of  the LG initiatives in India included Kar Salam, Karein Roshni (surgeries for visually impaired, cornea eye transplant), LG Eco Agents (to train students and teachers to avoid the use of single-use plastics(, and other

Finding Livelihood become a crucial concern during the COVID pandemic

Munish Chawla, Member, CII National Committee on Startups & Entrepreneurship and Co-founder, Jeevitam – a tech-enabled livelihood platform said that Jeevitam worked at providing work opportunities to people across the country with a focus on the vulnerable section of the society.

“We have been in the center stage during the Pandemic crises and are helping the people in finding livelihood in the middle of uncertainty. Last six months, we helped about one million people find livelihood through our initiatives,” said Chawla.

Jeevitam has over 1.5 crore work seekers registered on its platform and it helps provide livelihood opportunities in over 1000 plus cities and towns with over 200 profile types.

On how to make India youth employable and find a livelihood, he said If they learned the Korean language they could become employment and find livelihood opportunities on a better scale.

“The role of platforms like Asian Community News (ACN) Network that keeps a constant tab on Indo-Asian affairs with special focus countries like South Korea and Japan, becomes more significant in the wake of emerging and fast-changing geopolitical scenario. In this context countries like South Korea in Asia are gaining more importance for its role to play in shaping the future course of action,” Chawla added.