Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Yoon Sang-jick said in his New Year’s message his ministry will devote itself to fully turning around the national economy by wisely overcoming the difficult external conditions and concentrating all its energies on creating jobs.
“First, we will develop new growth engines that will drive the national economy for the next decade by realizing the creative economy in all industrial areas. And this year’s priority will be attached to nurturing the top 15 industrial engines of the creative economy, including autonomous automobiles, which will get us a jump-start as the first movers of the world, and the interdisciplinary convergence of shoes and textiles, ICT, and conventional and mainstay industries will be pushed continuously,” Minister Yoon said.
“We’ll usher in the $2 trillion trade era by developing such new, creative export industries as transit trade, processing trade, and road feeder services,” he said.
Second, he said, his ministry will take the lead in investments and job creation so that all people can sense an economic recovery. “MOTIE will strive to build a business-friendly environment and minimize policy uncertainties so that companies can invest without hesitation, and such things as the Hope Link Project will be implemented so that investments can translate into job creation,” he added.
Third, he said, his ministry will endeavor to build a healthy industrial ecosystem in which all companies can grow together. The government will push for Industry Innovation 3.0 for shared growth that helps SMEs enhance self-sustainability as well as the settlement of such measures to promote economic democracy as outcome-sharing and the revamping of unfair practices. It will also provide SMEs and large-sized non-conglomerate firms with new business opportunities by making the most of the outcomes of President Park Geun-hye’s overseas trips so that they can grow into global companies.
Fourth, he said, MOTIE will flesh out regional growth strategies by designating this year as the first year of enhancing regional industry development in accordance with the relocation of most ministries to Sejong City. The government will realize a paradigm shift from central government-initiated regional development initiatives to a new regional development strategy in which each region takes the initiative with support from the central government. Investment conditions will be improved in order to revitalize corporate investments based on each region, and industrial complexes will be renovated into regional clusters in which companies and gifted manpower converge.
Fifth, he said, MOTIE will carry out strategic trade policies designed to attach top priority to promoting national interests and public livelihood in such issues as Korea-China Free Trade Agreement negotiation and Korea’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
“We will pursue FTAs that can cope with trade environment changes in the Asia-Pacific region such as TPP and accommodate both the needs of the emerging countries and the interests of Korean industries as well as balanced trade policies by analyzing the domestic impact of trade negotiations from the market-opening perspective and monitoring opinions according to business segments, including the fisheries industry,” said Minister Yoon, adding that MOTIE will offer aggressive assistance to corporate utilization of FTAs and Korean companies’ entry into foreign markets through the operation of the FTA Call Center.
Lastly, he said, his ministry will pay keen attention and do its utmost to establish stable energy supply and demand, and futuristic energy policies. The minister said MOTIE will give top priority to strengthening nuclear power unit safety management regimes so as not to repeat the revelations of malpractices related to the operation of nuclear units last year and ensuring their transparent operation.
MOTIE will build more power plants on time to ensure a stable power supply while accelerating demand management based on energy storage systems (ESS), smart grid, and other ICT infrastructure.
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