Nonsan, Iksan, Jeonju Sign Win-Win Job Agreement... 500 Billion KRW Investment Over 3 Years

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Dongwoo Lee] The government will invest a total of 500 billion KRW over three years in the Nonsan, Iksan, and Jeonju areas to create about 800 jobs.

On the 27th, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that representatives of labor, management, civil society, and government from three regions?Nonsan City in Chungnam, Iksan City, and Jeonju City in Jeonbuk?signed a 'win-win agreement' for win-win regional jobs.

Win-win regional jobs are projects that create sustainable quality jobs based on a grand compromise among labor, management, civil society, and government. Previously, the government announced the 'Plan to Expand the Win-win Regional Job Model' in 2019 and amended the 'Special Act on Balanced National Development' to establish a legal basis. Starting with the 'Gwangju-type jobs' in the same year, the model expanded to Miryang, Daegu, Gumi, Hoengseong, and others, with a total of 12 win-win agreements signed nationwide as of today.

Supply of Agricultural Products from Nonsan and Iksan... Urban-Rural Complex Business Model

Nonsan and Iksan will stably supply agricultural products produced by local farms to food manufacturers. The manufacturers will establish an urban-rural complex business model by processing and selling the supplied agricultural products locally.

The Nonsan-type jobs involve 11 companies, including CJ CheilJedang, hy (Korea Yakult), Hanmi Food, and local agricultural enterprises. Major products include freeze-dried foods, processed eggs, meal kits, and fermented dairy products. From this year through 2024, 177.6 billion KRW will be invested to directly employ 355 people. Participating companies will prioritize hiring local talent, and local universities and educational institutions will provide customized training based on corporate demand.

The economic ripple effect is expected to be 533.6 billion KRW over the next five years. Food companies will cooperate with farms to purchase raw and subsidiary materials within the region, improve quality standards, and support sales expansion. In addition to paying appropriate wages above the average wage of manufacturing workers in Nonsan, a joint labor welfare fund of 460 million KRW will be established to enhance worker welfare.

The Iksan-type jobs involve companies such as Harim Food and HS Food. Over three years (January 2022 to December 2024), a total of 200 billion KRW will be invested to newly employ 230 people. A 'multi-year contract cultivation system' will be introduced to increase the proportion of local agricultural products from 30% to 60%. Furthermore, through the 'Supply and Demand Stabilization Council,' plans will be discussed to ensure stable agricultural product supply and guarantee farmers income above production costs. The ripple effect of the Iksan-type job project is expected to reach 573.6 billion KRW over five years, including sales of 331.3 billion KRW and added value of 242.3 billion KRW. The total employment inducement effect is estimated to be 2,183 people.

Establishment of Integrated Supply System for Carbon Materials Industry in Jeonju

Jeonju plans to establish an integrated supply system including carbon material manufacturing, intermediate material processing, and aircraft parts manufacturing. The investing companies include Hyosung Advanced Materials, Deck Carbon, and KGF.

Hyosung Advanced Materials will supply carbon fiber and provide technical support to small and medium enterprises for new product development and commercialization. It will also assist with certification, product exhibitions, and marketing. SMEs will discuss joint procurement of raw and subsidiary materials, joint R&D, and cooperative factory operation plans. Companies will consider emissions of air and environmental pollutants from production plants and promote joint treatment of environmental waste and disclosure of environmental information during production processes.

From this year through 2024, a total of 137.5 billion KRW will be invested to acquire land and other purposes, aiming to newly employ 277 people. Major products include carbon fiber, aircraft parts, and carbon composites (prepreg and towpreg). The regional economic ripple effect over the next five years is projected at 943.8 billion KRW, with a total employment inducement effect of 1,847 people.

Moon Seung-wook, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, said, "The government will continue to communicate with local labor, management, civil society, and government and actively resolve difficulties to ensure that win-win regional jobs nationwide, including Nonsan, Iksan, and Jeonju, proceed without any setbacks."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.