[Linde Korea\’s Additional Investment]

The German Linde group, which has the biggest market share in the world in the field of industrial gas decided to invest an additional $177.5 million into their Giheung factory in Gyeonggi.

On the 5th Gyeonggi Province concluded an investment agreement for the building of facilities with the German industrial gas company Linde for a production facility for gas used in the production of semiconductors.

According to the agreement The Linde Group will invest $177.5 million over the next three years starting from next year for the construction of a hi-tech production facility for gas used in semiconductor manufacture in Yongin.

The gas produced by the Linde Corporation as a highly pure gas, a necessary material for the production of semiconductors, is supplied to domestic semiconductor producers.

Gyeonggi Province had plans to initiate support for a successful investment in the province from investment inducement in 2005 to building a relationship of trust with the Linde Corporation.

As an additional investment, the Linde Group looks to improve the competitive edge of the semiconductor industry in Korea as well as contribute to stimulating the local economy through creating jobs.

[Hospital Specializing in Seniors’ Care]

Gyeonggi Province announced it would build hospitals for seniors in 5 places by 2011.

The senior population in Gyeonggi Province aged 65 and up total 870,000 people, and makes up 7.8% of the population.

As the number of seniors increases in the Gyeonggi population, in which an aging society is setting in, requests have been made for additional seniors’ medical facilities treating seniors’ illnesses to be built in addition to the existing facilities.

Accordingly, Gyeonggi Province stated plans to build 5 more senior care facilities by 2011 in addition to the existing 4 that are already open.

First of all, the province has plans to build public senior care hospitals each with a capacity of 230 sickbeds by next year in Namyangju, and Siheung.

Further, hospitals with a capacity of 200 sickbeds are planned to be introduced by the end of 2010 in Bucheon and Hwaseong.

[Water Analysis at Low Tide]

In the first half, the rate of water purity for water supply equipment in the province stood at 20%, which seems to be at a very low level.

With the enactment of a water law in 2005
water supply equipment for water analysis has been in operation since last year.

However, despite worries about water contamination of 80% of refuse due to the recent hot weather the places that were tested for water quality in the first half had some contamination.

Of the 11,300 facilities tested for water quality 2200 places actually had water analysis purity rates of 19%.

Suwon and Paju especially were unsatisfactory with test results coming out at around 10%.

On the flip side Yeoncheon and Yeoju had purity rates of more the 50% showing a huge contrast.

Accordingly, Gyeonggi Province will actively promote the places that are not up to par with water quality until the end of the year, in line with their plan to improve water quality.

[Keeping Open Markets Alive]

Gyeonggi Province has taken steps to save open markets. First of all, 10 markets have been selected with plans to develop the special features of each market.

Gyeonggi Province has chosen 10 places in its plan to promote specialized projects over the next 5 years starting this year.

The selected markets will receive funding of $956,200 each.

Further, to better develop the things to eat and places to see according to the special features of each market, public relations for the markets is planned.

The province will first open a merchant’s association, and plans to select for the development project those markets that have some degree of modernization, or those that have special features.

Accordingly, the province will accept applications from prospective markets until the 20thof this month,then will announce the selected markets.

Once the specialization project is underway it is predicted that the number of customers frequenting the markets should increase helping to stimulate the local economy.

5. [More Rice Vending Machines]

Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research & Extension Services has increased the number of rice vending machines to increase the supply of Gyeonggi Rice to the market.

This is a rice vending machine making its first appearance in the metropolitan area.

With instant rice polishing available fresh rice can be purchased conveniently from the machine.

From now on these vending machines will become a more common sight in apartment complexes in the city or nearby shops.

To make Gyeonggi rice more popular Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research & Extension Services has concluded an agreement with a domestic rice vending machine manufacturer and Gyeonggi rice suppliers to increase the amount of rice vending machines.

There are two types of rice vending machines that will be supplied in the city.

Both have been manufactured domestically using their own technology with the options of rice for sale including regular rice and ‘seven rice,’ which includes 7 kinds of rice mixed together.

The rice vending machine is becoming a new method for supplying rice produced by farmers in hard times due to a decrease in the demand for rice.

[Running Even on Weekends]

With the hosting of the World Yacht Contest and International Boat Show the number of citizens making their way to Jeongok Port has increased. To help them get to the port more conveniently Gyeonggi Province has made plans to operate a flexible bus route.

In June with the popularity of the World Yacht Contest and International Boat Show Jeongok Port saw about 3,000 tourists every weekend, gaining attention as a new tourist attraction.

Gyeonggi Province will begin the operation of a bus route that will start this month for the convenience of visitors to Jeongok Port.

For the time being the province has included Jeongok Port only on weekends on route 1004, the bus that starts from Suwon Station and has Jebu Island as the final destination.

Further, if the number of tourists visiting Jeongok Port increases bus routes will be added from Ansan, and Gunpo to the port.

This summer looks as if it will be more convenient for those visitors to get to Jeongok port thanks to the public transportation system in place.

[Environment-friendly Produce Corner]

Gyeonggi Province has set up an exclusively environment-friendly produce corner in one supermarket in the province to help improve sales of environment-friendly products.

Here is one supermarket in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.

A Gyeonggi environment-friendly products corner has made its way into this supermarket.

From the Gyeonggi environment-friendly products corner Gyeonggi approved products such as environment-friendly detergent, soap, a total of 6 items from 4 companies from within the province are now for sale.

This is the first time a local autonomy has set up an exclusive corner to display and sell products recommended by a local autonomy.

Seeing the environment-friendly products corner they set up as an opportunity Gyeonggi Province plans to establish exclusive products corners for all distributers from within the province to increase the consumption of environment-friendly products.

And according to the environment-friendly products promotion law that went into effect from June of last year supermarkets within the province will be inspected for how closely they adhere to the regulation of setting up an environment-friendly products corner.

The province also has plans to push for a culture of green consumption from environmental groups and others.