ID :
34380
Sun, 12/07/2008 - 11:02
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Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/34380
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Gov't to inject 3.2 tln won to create farm sector jobs in 2009
By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, Dec. 7 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government said Sunday it will inject 3.25 trillion won (US$2.20 billion) into the farm sector next year, creating 27,000 new jobs in an area that is expected to be hit hard by the economic slowdown.
South Korea's economy is expected to pull off growth in the 4-percent range this
year, down from 5 percent in 2007, but numbers are to drop to the 3-percent range
next year, according to most state-run and private economic think tanks. Sluggish
growth translates into fewer job opportunities for farming communities, which are
already suffering from diminishing income and a steady outflow of working-age
people.
The plan calls for supporting the food industry and local agricultural
businesses, bolstering rural development and strengthening forestry resources,
the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said.
The plan outlines efforts to expand the food processing sector and fuel exports
of traditional Korean foods like kimchi and various fermented bean products to
create 4,530 new jobs in 2009, said the ministry.
The weak won and concerns about the safety of Chinese products are boosting
exports of Korean food to Japan and Southeast Asia. Outbound shipments of locally
made food are estimated to reach US$4.5 billion this year from $3.8 billion in
2007.
The food processing sector as a whole has grown an average of 6.4 percent in the
last decade to become a 100 trillion won industry.
In the agriculture business sector, Seoul will invest 756.9 billion won to create
4,508 employment opportunities in research and development, overseas farming
activities and start-up companies.
The farming of seaweed and other plants to be converted into bio-energy resources
is gaining importance as the country tries to reduce its dependence on energy
imports.
In rural development, the ministry said it will spend a total of 2.5 trillion won
to expand and improve farming, irrigation infrastructure and amenities that could
transform farming communities into recreational and industrial centers.
It forecast that 9,460 posts could be created in the new year through projects
like the massive Saemangeum land reclamation on the country's southwestern coast
and the creation of new agro-industrial complexes.
The creation of a farm equipment bank that will reduce farmers' financial burden
by loaning expensive equipment could also add more jobs.
The ministry also said that 8,736 forestry jobs may be created to help absorb the
growing number of unemployed people. Forests cover roughly 64 percent of South
Korea.
Besides the four main areas, the ministry said the National Agricultural
Cooperative Federation and National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative plan to
expand their operations and services, creating 18,929 and 3,000 new jobs by
2013, respectively.
SEOUL, Dec. 7 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government said Sunday it will inject 3.25 trillion won (US$2.20 billion) into the farm sector next year, creating 27,000 new jobs in an area that is expected to be hit hard by the economic slowdown.
South Korea's economy is expected to pull off growth in the 4-percent range this
year, down from 5 percent in 2007, but numbers are to drop to the 3-percent range
next year, according to most state-run and private economic think tanks. Sluggish
growth translates into fewer job opportunities for farming communities, which are
already suffering from diminishing income and a steady outflow of working-age
people.
The plan calls for supporting the food industry and local agricultural
businesses, bolstering rural development and strengthening forestry resources,
the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said.
The plan outlines efforts to expand the food processing sector and fuel exports
of traditional Korean foods like kimchi and various fermented bean products to
create 4,530 new jobs in 2009, said the ministry.
The weak won and concerns about the safety of Chinese products are boosting
exports of Korean food to Japan and Southeast Asia. Outbound shipments of locally
made food are estimated to reach US$4.5 billion this year from $3.8 billion in
2007.
The food processing sector as a whole has grown an average of 6.4 percent in the
last decade to become a 100 trillion won industry.
In the agriculture business sector, Seoul will invest 756.9 billion won to create
4,508 employment opportunities in research and development, overseas farming
activities and start-up companies.
The farming of seaweed and other plants to be converted into bio-energy resources
is gaining importance as the country tries to reduce its dependence on energy
imports.
In rural development, the ministry said it will spend a total of 2.5 trillion won
to expand and improve farming, irrigation infrastructure and amenities that could
transform farming communities into recreational and industrial centers.
It forecast that 9,460 posts could be created in the new year through projects
like the massive Saemangeum land reclamation on the country's southwestern coast
and the creation of new agro-industrial complexes.
The creation of a farm equipment bank that will reduce farmers' financial burden
by loaning expensive equipment could also add more jobs.
The ministry also said that 8,736 forestry jobs may be created to help absorb the
growing number of unemployed people. Forests cover roughly 64 percent of South
Korea.
Besides the four main areas, the ministry said the National Agricultural
Cooperative Federation and National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative plan to
expand their operations and services, creating 18,929 and 3,000 new jobs by
2013, respectively.
