ID :
29485
Mon, 11/10/2008 - 19:42
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/29485
The shortlink copeid
Lee vows to attain 4 percent economic growth in 2009
(ATTN: UPDATES with president's additional remarks at bottom)
By Yoo Cheong-mo
SEOUL, Nov. 10 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak said Monday that he is
determined to attain an annual economic growth of 4 percent next year by
orchestrating a concerted nationwide campaign to overcome the global economic
crisis.
"The global economy, let alone the economies of the U.S., the European Union and
Japan, is projected to post minus growth next year. But I feel a heavy burden as
the (South) Korean economy is widely forecast to grow over 3 percent next year,"
said Lee during his visit to an industrial park south of Seoul.
"But I'm convinced we can manage to raise the economic growth rate by an
additional 1 percentage point, if political circles cooperate. A growth of an
additional 1 percentage point is very meaningful. In these difficult economic
times, all economic institutions have to be fully united," said the president.
Lee reiterated that he will focus his policy efforts on helping small and
medium-sized businesses, self-employed individuals and low-income people tide
over the ongoing economic hardships.
"It's very important to help low-income workers retain their employment. In this
sense, small and medium-sized companies should be led to perform strongly. A
decade ago, we witnessed about 1.5 million people lose their jobs as a result of
the closure of tens of thousands of small businesses," said the president.
"The government will strive to keep vital credit lines available to small
businesses. But I'm actually concerned about whether local banks will fully
cooperate in this government policy," Lee said.
According to presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan, President Lee specifically
stressed the role of the National Assembly and the importance of national unity
in fighting the economic crisis.
"Civil servants, as well as bankers, should have a greater understanding of the
difficulties faced by managers of small businesses," the president was quoted as
saying.
"At a time of crisis like this, the rival parties should also be united. In a
thriving household, for instance, the estranged brothers stop their fighting in
case a burglar breaks in. They return to their fighting only after overrunning
the burglar."
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
By Yoo Cheong-mo
SEOUL, Nov. 10 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak said Monday that he is
determined to attain an annual economic growth of 4 percent next year by
orchestrating a concerted nationwide campaign to overcome the global economic
crisis.
"The global economy, let alone the economies of the U.S., the European Union and
Japan, is projected to post minus growth next year. But I feel a heavy burden as
the (South) Korean economy is widely forecast to grow over 3 percent next year,"
said Lee during his visit to an industrial park south of Seoul.
"But I'm convinced we can manage to raise the economic growth rate by an
additional 1 percentage point, if political circles cooperate. A growth of an
additional 1 percentage point is very meaningful. In these difficult economic
times, all economic institutions have to be fully united," said the president.
Lee reiterated that he will focus his policy efforts on helping small and
medium-sized businesses, self-employed individuals and low-income people tide
over the ongoing economic hardships.
"It's very important to help low-income workers retain their employment. In this
sense, small and medium-sized companies should be led to perform strongly. A
decade ago, we witnessed about 1.5 million people lose their jobs as a result of
the closure of tens of thousands of small businesses," said the president.
"The government will strive to keep vital credit lines available to small
businesses. But I'm actually concerned about whether local banks will fully
cooperate in this government policy," Lee said.
According to presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan, President Lee specifically
stressed the role of the National Assembly and the importance of national unity
in fighting the economic crisis.
"Civil servants, as well as bankers, should have a greater understanding of the
difficulties faced by managers of small businesses," the president was quoted as
saying.
"At a time of crisis like this, the rival parties should also be united. In a
thriving household, for instance, the estranged brothers stop their fighting in
case a burglar breaks in. They return to their fighting only after overrunning
the burglar."
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
