South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Park Young-sik on Tuesday said building on the achievements of the past 50 years, both Bangladesh and Korea are committed to forging a brighter and more prosperous future for the two nations.
"As we celebrate this significant milestone in our diplomatic relations, we must acknowledge the vital role that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plays in this journey," he said while speaking at the K-CSR Seminar 2023: “Korean Investors CSRs Activities and Investment Outlooks.”
The Ambassador mentioned that CSR is not just a buzzword; it is a commitment by businesses to give something back to the communities in which they operate.
Korean investors in Bangladesh have exemplified this commitment, making a positive impact on society through various CSR initiatives, said the envoy.
From sharing advanced technologies to promoting education, environmental sustainability, healthcare, and more, Korean companies have been instrumental in Bangladesh's social development, said Ambassador Park.
"One notable example is Youngone, which actively promotes women's rights and provides quality education, hygiene, healthcare, and childcare services," he said.
Samsung R&D, on the other hand, focuses on human capital development in the ICT sector, nurturing students' problem-solving skills and supporting research at institutions like Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), the envoy mentioned.
The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Dhaka in partnership with the Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) Dhaka office, jointly organized the seminar to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Bangladesh.
Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Lokman Hossain Miah joined the event as the chief guest.
Jahangir Saadat, President of KEPZ, Shahamin S. Zaman, CEO, CSR Centre, M. Jashim Uddin Khan, Director of BIDA, Shahab Uddin Khan, President of KBCCI, Mohammad Refayet Ullah Mirdha, President of ERF and Sam Soo Kim, Country Director of KOTRA also attended the event.
“BIDA is very happy that South Korean investors are interested in increasing their activities in Bangladesh. More Korean investments in high-value manufacturing and services can help us become ‘Smart Bangladesh’ by 2041. Your world-class technology, productivity and management skills are exactly what we need," said Lokman Hossain Miah.
He assured that BIDA will ensure their smooth entry, operation and growth in Bangladesh.
Representatives from Youngone, Korea Expressway Corporation, LG, Samsung R&D, Dohwa Engineering, Samsung Electronics, Woori Bank, Samsung C&T Corporation, Korean RMG Contributor and Save the Children presented their respective CSR activities.
After the presentations, the launching ceremony of the book K-CSR was held which describes the best CSR practices by Korean companies operating in Bangladesh, the conference revisited the importance of the private sector’s role in maintaining a balanced and sustainable society and promoted strong bilateral commercial ties between Korea and Bangladesh.
