A third-generation industrial estate, which carries out multiple functions, including production, education, residence and culture, will be created in Chungcheongnam-do (Chungnam), a top official of the province said.
In an interview with Korea IT Times, Ahn Hee-jung, governor of Chungnam, said, "The advanced industrial estate will be built in the three regions in the province _ Cheonan, Asan and Dangjin."
Cheonan will take responsibility for production of such advanced industries as electronics, machines, video, audio, communication equipment and precision machinery.
"In particular, an international business park will be created in Cheonan to accommodate more than 33,000 people and help businessmen effectively deal with financing and other businesses," said Ahn.
In Asan, Tangjeong industrial estate will be built to attract production facilities for video, audio, communication equipment and non-metal mining goods, R&D centers and medical service, cultural & educational functions.
"The industrial estate project will be pushed ahead in linkage with the Asan new town project which will satisfy business, educational and cultural functions," the governor said.
Meanwhile, Songsan industrial estate in Dangjin will be in charge of primary metal industry and production function of automobiles and trailers.
"In Dangjin, Songak district will be developed to take charge of high-tech industry, international business, commerce, residence, culture, medical service and education," he said.
"Along with this, Songak free economic zone will be developed to take charge of state-of-the-art industry, international business, commerce, residence, cultural, medical service and educational sectors," he said.
Fostering of IT industry
Noting that Chungnam accounts for an average 55.6 percent of the domestic display industry, Ahn said, "We will actively foster Cheonan and Asan regions as a world-famous crystal valley by building networks linking industry, universities, research centers and the provincial government."
Chungnam also takes over an average 25 percent of the global display market with the market share of 27 percent for LCD, 31 percent for PDP and 75 percent for OLED, becoming the global center of the industry.
In particular, a total of 185 display-related companies, including the global leader Samsung Electronics, are located in the province. The total breaks down into four module companies, 93 parts & material firms, and 88 production equipment makers. In 2009, combined exports of the companies reached $21.7 billion.
"Related to this, we will actively foster display professional manpower and support relevant R&D projects. At the same time, we will upgrade the Crystal Valley Conference & Exhibition, which has been held annually since 2005, to a global-level fair," said the governor.
Commenting that semiconductor and display-related parts, equipment and material companies, including Samsung Electronics and SDI, have led the regional economic development in Chungnam, Ahn said, "We will continuously make efforts to keep the upward growth pace.
"In line with this, leading companies need to enhance synergy effects by creating clusters with relevant subcontractors, keep global competitiveness and create value added continuously. On the other hand, subcontractors should exert best efforts to keep the win-win relationship with leading firms by enhancing price and quality competitiveness in parts, materials and equipment fields," said Ahn.
Project for development of science technology
Stressing that science technology sway the future of a country and a province, the governor said, "The province will spend fiscal budgets for supporting basic science study and future origin technology, and other corporate R&D projects. In line with this, Chungnam will inject a total of 113.9 billion won into 64 projects in seven fields this year.
"To speed up development of science technology, we plan to create an academic, industrial and research innovation cluster by making the best use of basic technology study manpower at Daedeok research complex and universities in the province."
The province plans to actively support projects for development of new technologies centering on the four strategic industries - electronics information equipment, automobiles, agricultural & livestock bio, and advanced cultural industry.
"Besides, we will build a network between large and smaller companies for close cooperation and actively foster new IT and bio industries, including renewable energy and recycling green industry," said Ahn.
To strengthen R&D function and push for strategic agriculture, the province plans to focus its assistance on agricultural techno park and agricultural technology center. To improve the province's science technology level and foster excellent manpower, it also projects to create the science technology advisory committee, he said.
Plan to expand employment of youth
"As a means of accelerating enterprises' employment of young people, the province will activate information sharing between universities and companies in the province. Related to this, the province will find out promising mid-sized companies recruiting young people and offer such information to universities," the governor said.
"Along with this, we will strengthen efforts to help university graduates land a job easily by organizing an employment fair and operating a job comprehensive center in the province," he said.
Noting that the province plans to actively foster manpower suitable for regional industries, Ahn said, "We will foster 100 technicians in the mecha-tronics sector, 50 experts in semiconductor and display field, and 80 specialists in 3D stereoscopic sector."
He said that the province plans to spend 2.1 billion for projects to increase employment of youths through operation of a youth business start-up program and a consulting program for business start-up.
Gov. Ahn also added that the province will make a strong push for creating a large-scale economic bloc in Chungnam through operation of an administration council and an economic council.
