Sim Deok-seop, the mayor of Gochang County, recently visited the Cambodian Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training and met with Minister Heng Sroueun.
(Provided by Gochang County)
Sim Deok-seop, the mayor of Gochang County, established a foothold for attracting seasonal workers and exporting agricultural products through a business trip to three Southeast Asian countries (Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos) from the 3rd to the 9th.
This trip was aimed at laying a solid foundation for the successful operation of the seasonal worker program next year. The mayor secured a stable number of workers for the program by reaching agreements with Vietnam and Cambodia, with whom Gochang had signed a memorandum of understanding in 2022 regarding the recruitment of seasonal workers.
In Laos, a new partner country, the mayor sought ways to efficiently manage and supply labor through discussions with the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare. Plans are in place to attract additional workers to assist local farms, considering the working conditions of Laotian workers.
Sim Deok-seop, the mayor of Gochang County, recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Lao Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare. (Provided by Gochang County)
Gochang County has taken an important step in expanding exports by promoting its excellent agricultural products in the Southeast Asian market. Through export consultations and promotional activities in Laos and Vietnam, the county showcased its representative agricultural products such as bokbunja (black raspberry) wine, eel, and jelly, engaging with local buyers for potential deals.
The county’s efforts gained significant attention, with even the Lao national broadcasting station covering the events. Gochang County plans to continue working towards exporting its products to the promising Lao market.
In particular, the Gochang delegation signed an export cooperation agreement with K&K Global Trading (Chairman Ko Sang-gu), the largest Korean agricultural and food distribution company in Vietnam, at their Hanoi headquarters on the 7th. Products such as bokbunja juice, jelly, and processed eel have been well-received by local Vietnamese consumers, with annual exports expected to reach around 50,000 USD.
Sim Deok-seop, the mayor of Gochang County, is recently holding an agricultural product export consultation meeting in Vientiane, Laos. (Provided by Gochang County)
Through this Southeast Asia visit, Gochang County has laid the groundwork to achieve two goals simultaneously: solving labor issues in agriculture and expanding the export of agricultural products. By expanding cooperation in attracting seasonal workers and establishing a collaborative network for increasing agricultural product exports, the county is expected to promote the sustainable development of Gochang’s agriculture.
Mayor Sim Deok-seop of Gochang County stated, “In the short term, attracting seasonal workers will be important, but in the long run, this will serve as a crucial foundation for strengthening local diplomatic exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.” He added, “We will continue to accelerate the exploration of overseas markets, including Southeast Asia, and will persistently seek various ways to promote mutual growth with local farmers.”
Source: Joongdo Ilbo
