GANGWON-DO < invest Korea

According to Yonhap News,

(JEONGSEON=Yonhap News) An annual conference of South Korean business leaders from around the world kicked off in Gangwon Province on Tuesday, with a focus on forming closer networks with businesses in the eastern province and creating more overseas job opportunities for its youth.

The World Federation of Overseas Korean Traders Association (World-OKTA) opened its 21st leaders' convention at the High 1 resort in Jeongseon, 210 kilometers east of Seoul, jointly with Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's key newswire, and the Gangwon provincial government.

The four-day convention brought together about 800 World-OKTA members from 146 cities in 74 countries and some 400 business executives and officials from Gangwon.

Organizers say this year's convention is intended to help small and medium-sized businesses and young people in the province's 18 cities and counties make inroads into foreign markets, in addition to building closer business networks among members and member companies.

For that purpose, World-OKTA members plan to hold export consultations with about 50 small and medium-sized companies in the province, as well as the Korea Fisheries Association and about 40 other companies participating in the federation's overseas branch office service, they note.

In addition, the overseas Korean business leaders will meet with officials of universities and other institutions in the province to discuss creating more overseas jobs for young people living in Gangwon Province.

The heads of six cities and counties in the province will also take part in the conference to call for mutual growth of World-OKTA members and Gangwon Province corporations.

"The 21st convention is the first World-OKTA event to be held with a goal of promoting mutual growth and prosperity in cooperation with local governments. It is designed to help overseas Korean businesses contribute to the development of Gangwon Province," World-OKTA Chairman Ha Yong-hwa said.

Ha added World-OKTA aims to help at least 300 South Korean youths land jobs abroad this year.

In the opening ceremony, Yonhap News CEO Cho Sung-boo, Gangwon Gov. Choi Moon-soon and Rep. Kim Kwan-young, floor leader of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party gave a welcoming address prior to a welcome dinner hosted by Choi and a fireworks show.

Cho asked World-OKTA member companies for greater support for the overseas expansion of Korean small and medium-sized companies. "Overseas Korean businesspeople will be of enormous help to young Koreans anxiously looking for employment or business opportunities abroad," Cho said in his address.

On Wednesday, World-OKTA members will hold their own meeting before arranging an export consultation with overseas buyers. On Thursday, a series of events will be held to discuss creating overseas jobs for the youth of Gangwon Province and promoting the overseas expansion of provincial companies. Cho will then host a dinner.

ycm@yna.co.kr

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Source: Yonhap News (April 23, 2019)