Gyeonggi Province announced the results of a survey regarding its major economic policies for 2007, in which more than 70% of the respondents expressed satisfaction with the initiatives.
According to the results, satisfaction levels have risen in terms of the advancement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into overseas markets, and with the Gyeonggi NewDeal initiative, compared to 2006. Meanwhile, 70% of respondents said they were satisfied with facility of traditional markets, academy-industry joint technology development, funding to SMEs, customized manpower fostering in the academic-industry-government joint sector, a level that was unchanged from the previous year.
To evaluate the level of satisfaction with the 15 economic policy initiatives currently in operation by Gyeonggi Province, the province conducted a survey of 2000 entrepreneurs, researchers, young job-seekers, and foreign investors who are either directly or indirectly engaged in the local government’s promotion of economic policy establishments.
The results are expected to contribute greatly to enhancing the efficiency of future policy, as the evaluation was made by clients rather than by civil servants. The results will be reflected in the 2008 project plans and in the budget.
The survey questions were focused to gather the opinions of the concerned parties to eight projects, including the facilities enhancement of traditional markets, and seven new projects, including the development of industrial complexes.
With regard to the traditional market facility upgrade, sales levels and customer numbers fell sharply in 2007 from 2006, due to the economic slowdown and an increase in large retail outlets. The survey revealed that the facility upgrades had not led to an increase in customers.
Relating to the In-to-In project (talent recruiting supporting project), the satisfaction level of the respondents’ was low in terms of resume registration, search service, job information offerings, and support for job seekers.
When asked about academic-industry-government joint technology development, the respondents answered that it was most necessary to develop new materials and parts. However, in terms of the academic-industry-government joint talent fostering initiative, the survey respondents emphasized that practical training needed to be strengthened.
About financial support for SMEs, 80% of respondents felt that conditions of financing, granting period, and time of financing were important factors. Moreover, the survey found that the lending rates for policy funds that Gyeonggi Province offered were lower than the lending rates of other institutions.
The results of the government’s initiatives in the area of foreign capital attraction support and enhancement of the investment environment were as follows. The residential conditions of foreigners improved in 2007 (48% of respondents in 2007 compared with 34% in 2006), but support services after advancement of SMEs into overseas markets worsened (27.1% in 2007 compared with 61.7% in 2006).
Concerning the infrastructure of the industrial complex for foreign-invested companies, including public transportation, the respondents revealed low levels of satisfaction, which was similar to the previous year. But 81.5% responded that they were satisfied with the professional ability of civil servants within the complex, while 81.5% were satisfied with support services.
As for the establishment and operation of a regional design center, the respondents complained most about having too much ？？¡Æpaperwork？？¡¾, and the complexity of related procedures.
Meanwhile, 78.6% said they were satisfied with their decision to participate in the Regional Innovation Center (RIC) and the Gyeonggi Regional Research Center (GRRC) projects. In a similar vein, 68.6% were satisfied with the research capability of the research centers. In terms of their needs, the respondents mostly wished to be informed about new technology trends and information.
In the case of the In-to-In project, only 36.5% and 32.3% were satisfied with the resume registering and the search service, respectively. Only 31.3% were satisfied with the provision of job information and corporate information. Of those who were looking for jobs, 31.8% were satisfied in the way that they had been helped in finding a job, while only 6.5% of companies were satisfied with the service.
As for the creation of industrial complexes, companies were mostly motivated to move into the complexes for their good infrastructure, including transportation. They said they were mostly satisfied with infrastructure after they moved in, and among the infrastructural aspects they were most satisfied with the road facilities. The biggest difficulty faced by them was hiring employees, while 38.3% said welfare facilities needed to be improved.
A Gyeonggi Province official said, “The survey plays a significant role in helping us to establish the province’s economic policy showing while considering the point of view of the customers. In the future we plan to lengthen the survey period, as well as to increase the number of survey samples, in order to improve the efficiency of the evaluation.”