Governor Nam Kyung-pil held an informal meeting with Japan-based foreign-invested businesses in the province, explained the provincial office’s policy for encouraging foreign investment, and listened to the difficulties they experience.

At a session held at the Gyeonggi-do Office on April 1 starting 2:00 PM, representatives of 21 Japan-based foreign-invested businesses including Canon Korea Business Solution, ULVAC Korea, Nitto Optical Korea, etc., attended. Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Chairman Kang Deuk-gu was also present.

At the meeting, Governor Nam Kyung-pil promised that he would strive to reflect the options for the mismatch between domestic businesses looking for good employees and young people trying to land jobs at foreign-invested businesses given their difficulty in finding good employees. He added that he would discuss the problem in consultation with businesses, universities, and research institutes from mid- and long-term perspectives.

With regard to the Gyeonggi-do Office’s major policy directions concerning foreign investment in the country, he pointed out the following: ▲ making forays into the Chinese market using the Korea-China FTA; ▲ focusing on techno valleys in Pangyo and second Pangyo, and; ▲ Samsung Semiconductor’s investment in Godeok New Town, Pyeongtaek.

“I understand that it is not easy for Japanese businesses to overcome the stumbling blocks associated with technological gap and history in their attempts to make forays into the Chinese market, but they can rely on Korean businesses to serve as a channel,” Governor Nam Kyung-pil also said. With regard to the second Pangyo slated for sales in 2017, he noted that the site is an optimal location for businesses trying to attract qualified researchers, offering convenience in transportation since it is close to Gangnam, Seoul. He recommended that many Japanese businesses relocate there, since he expects it to grow as a world-class business cluster.

At the session, the representative of Canon Korea explained its meister system wherein more favorable treatment is given to employees performing a difficult task and those with excellent job skills regardless of how long they have worked for the company. Nam Kyung-pil also explained the steps taken by the provincial office for the recommendations previously made by foreign-invested businesses.

He promised that he would hold meetings regularly to listen to businesses’ complaints and solve them in collaboration with the provincial assembly.

The province has a total of 3,844 foreign-invested businesses, including 577 Japan-based ones.