Da Nang hopes that South Korean businesses will continue to join efforts with the local government to gradually bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control, as well as share other social responsibilities, thereby significantly contributing to spreading corporate social responsibility practices among businesses in the future.

Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People's Committee Ngo Thi Kim Yen speaking at the forum. Photo: THANH LAN

Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People's Committee Ngo Thi Kim Yen made the statement at a forum on South Korean businesses’ corporate social responsibility in Central Viet Nam which took place at the Hyatt Regency Danang Resort on Friday morning.

Attendance at the event were South Korean Consul General in Da Nang Ahn Min-sik, Chairman of the Da Nang Union of Friendship Organizations Nguyen Ngoc Binh, and representatives from South Korean businesses operating in Central Viet Nam.

In her speech delivered at the forum, Vice Chairwoman Yen said that an array of cultural exchange activities and cooperative programmes will take place in Da Nang in 2022 to mark the 30^th anniversary of the Viet Nam-South Korea diplomatic ties (1992-2022). She expressed her hope that South Korean businesses will continue to accompany the city in its progress, hereby significantly contributing to strengthening cooperative relations between Viet Nam and South Korea in general, and between Da Nang and South Korean partners in particular.

To date, Da Nang has attracted more than 230 South Korean-invested projects with a total investment capital of more than US$380 million. South Korea is now the fifth largest source of foreign direct investment into Da Nang among 45 countries and territories worldwide.

In 2021, despite the complicated developments of COVID-19, Da Nang has already granted investment licences to 2 new South Korea-invested projects, totalling US$891,000.

During the 2015-2021 period, the city called for 15 non-governmental aid projects from South Korean partners, mainly in the fields of healthcare, education, aid, environment, and socio-economic development.

In the past times, Da Nang has received both in-kind and cash donations from the South Korean Consulate General in Da Nang, and South Korean enterprises, to support its battle against COVID-19.

Some delegates sharing about social responsibility activities at the forum. Photo: THANH LAN

In his remarks at the event, South Korean Consul General in Da Nang Ahn Min-sik affirmed that since their bilateral diplomatic relations was set up in 1992, both Viet Nam and South Korea have witnessed fruitful results from the cooperative ties and exchanges in various fields, especially in economy and trade.

South Korea is the largest foreign investor in Viet Nam with over 9,000 valid projects worth over US$71.5 billion, including nearly 500 investment projects in the ICT field with the presence of the world's leading technology corporations such as Samsung and LG. Meanwhile, Viet Nam has been named among South Korea’s top 4 main trading partners. Viet Nam is now home to 8,000 South Korean enterprises.

For many years, South Korean businesses operating in Viet Nam have been active in implementing social welfare work for the sake of the whole community, including creating jobs for locals, and supporting the city with needed works.

Through the forum, Mr. Ahn Min Sik hopes that the two sides will continue to reinforce mutual understanding and support on cooperative programmes in coming time.

At the forum, Korean businesses in Central Viet Nam briefed guests on their social responsibility activities done over the past five years and revealed their upcoming community support plans.

Reporting by THANH LAN - Translating by M.DUNG