UNB :
South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun on Sunday said CSR should not be merely seen as an additional cost to companies as it will bring more opportunities for businesses by creating a stable and balanced community.
“As a time-tested friend and development partner of Bangladesh, the Republic of Korea will always remain committed to working with Bangladesh towards a shared future of growth and prosperity,” he said.
The South Korean envoy was addressing a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) conference titled “CSR for Human Resource Development and Economic Growth” virtually.
The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Dhaka and the CSR Centre, in partnership with Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) Dhaka office, jointly organized the Bangladesh-Korea CSR Conference 2021.
Planning Minister MA Mannan joined the conference as the chief guest. President of Korea Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KBCCI) and Chairman of Meghna Group of Industries (MGI) Mostafa Kamal and Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh Sudipto Mukerjee spoke as special guests.
Ambassador Lee and Farooq Sobhan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the CSR Centre, co-hosted the virtual conference.
Ambassador Lee mentioned three reasons for hosting the conference: raise awareness about CSR and the private sector’s increasing role in sustainable development, share good CSR practices by Korean companies in Bangladesh, and invite others to join and make further efforts to contribute to the community.
Focusing on the importance of human resource development including education and vocational training in achieving Sustainable Development Goals, Ambassador Lee shared with the audience Korea’s various ODA programs such as KOICA-sponsored three vocational training centers in Dhaka, Chattogram and Rajshahi, National Institute of Advanced Nursing Education and Research, and 100 IT labs in secondary schools in Dhaka.
He said the Korean government launched a project with Dhaka University this year to establish an education and training center with a view to promote creative youth entrepreneurship in Bangladesh and that a startup support program with Bangladesh ICT Division is ongoing to cultivate entrepreneurship and foster innovative startups among the Bangladesh youth.
Representatives from Youngone, Samsung Electronics, Samsung R&D Institute, Hyundai E&C, and Dohwa Engineering presented their respective CSR activities.
Youngone Chairman Sung Ki-hak spoke about KEPZ’s Blue and Green Initiative, which planted 2.5 million trees and created 25 lakes and water bodies, and the ongoing 40 MW rooftop solar power project to meet the electricity demand within KEPZ as well as the local community.
He said Youngone’s other significant CSR contributions include the conservation of royal Bengal tigers in the Sundarbans, employment of over 75% female workers, construction of student dormitories in Mymensingh, support for autistic children through the contribution to the expansion of Proyash, establishment of the first computer graphics lab in Dhaka University, promotion of Bangladeshi art, and the multimillion-dollar restoration of Baro Sardar Bari in Sonargaon, which was recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Representatives from Samsung Electronics, Samsung R&D Institute, Hyundai E&C, and Dohwa Engineering shared the various CSR projects conducted over the past years including the establishment of community clinic and livelihood support for Matarbari residents, donation of PPEs against COVID-19, donation for train accident relief, support for flood victims, afforestation in the Khulna and Sundarban mangrove forest, reconstruction of schools and donation of sports equipment to schools, hosting of student field trips to project sites, IT training sessions for students/teachers, sponsoring of coding contests, establishment of IT lab in BUET, and provision of education and IT materials to underprivileged students.
Ambassador Lee said like diplomacy, business is also about winning the hearts and minds of people, the consumers.
“In a nutshell: winning trust. Trust is the very base of sustainable business as well as of the relationship between countries. Why are you and we making money? It is to make a better person, better household, better business, better country and a better world. And I believe that CSR is the way to it,” he said.
The envoy said to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, active involvement of not only the governments, but also the private sector is called for. “CSR is one way private companies can contribute.”
