Hanwha Business Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn has resumed his official management activities after a long-standing absence -- touring the site of an Iraqi city development project by Hanwha Engineering and Construction (E&C).
Hanwha Group Chairman Kim looked at the Bismayah new city construction site in Iraq and gave words of encouragement to Hanwha E&C staff, subcontractor company officials and workers from third countries from Dec. 7 to 9.
Dr. Sami Al Araji, chairman of the Iraq National Invest Commission (NIC), hearing Chairman Kim’s trip, visited the site without notice and took time out with Kim to discuss ways of implementing additional projects.
His tour came two years and five months after his first courtesy visit in July 2012 to former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to discuss additional orders for the restoration project of postwar Iraq. At the time, Chairman Kim went to Iraq despite his doctor advising against it, citing the long- flight and sudden climate changes’ possible adverse impact on his health conditions since he has “a profound affection and compassion over the Iraqi project and his whole-hearted mind to contributing to the development of the national economy.”
Chairman Kim was accompanied by Kum Chun-soo, head of Hanwha Group’s Management Planning Office, and Hanwha E&C President Lee Geun-po.
Chairman Kim toured the staff cafeteria of Hanwha E&C on Dec. 8 (local time) and had a luncheon with the staff. Hanwha E&C employees, subcontractor company officials and representative foreign workers were excited to be treated with flatfish sushi shipped from Korea .
“Things have changed dramatically,” Kim said over lunch. “Nothing could be seen during my first visit.” I applause for the hard work of the executives and staff members of Hanwha E&C and its subcontractors who are challenging for (a new milestone) in the history of the Korean construction industry in this far away foreign country.”
The Bismayah Project is the largest among the single overseas construction projects vis-a-vis domestic construction companies. The project calls for the construction of a new city for 100,000 families at the site of 18.3 million m2. The total construction value amounts to $8 billion. Currently 7,450 people are at work on the construction site, including 340 Hanwha E&C staffers, 304 subcontractor company officials, and 6,800 foreign workers.
Hanwha Group Chairman Nearly Back to Management After 2 Year Hiatus Hanwha Business Group Chairman Kim has virtually returned to management duties, ending the leadership vacuum caused by his hiatus since August 2012. Chairman Kim reported to work at the group’s headquarters in Janggyo-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, on Dec. 3.
Returning home from office at about 4 p.m. on the same day, Kim told reporters, “I’m healthy and very pleased (over the deal between Hanwha and Samsung business groups.)” He was referring to the 2 trillion won deal to acquire the subsidiaries of Samsung Group -- Samsung Techwin, Samsung Thales, Samsung General Chemicals and Samsung Total Petrochemicals Co. Chairman Kim showed up a few more times following the deal.
