The Korea-Bangladesh CSR Conference 2021 has been organised to raise awareness about corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the private sector’s increasing role in the sustainable development and share good CSR practices by Korean companies in Bangladesh, Korean Ambassador Lee Jang-keun said today.
The event also aims at inviting others to join and make further efforts to contribute to the community, he said.
He also stressed the need for human resource development, including education and vocational training, in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
He made the comments at the Korea-Bangladesh CSR Conference 2021 themed at “CSR for human resource development and economic growth”.
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 organised the event virtually.
The ambassador shared with the audience Korea’s various Official Development Assistance programmes such as KOICA-sponsored three vocational training centres in Dhaka, Chattogram and Rajshahi, National Institute of Advanced Nursing Education and Research, and 100 IT labs in secondary schools in Dhaka.
The Korean government launched a project with Dhaka University this year to establish an education and training centre with a view to promote creative youth entrepreneurship in Bangladesh, he said.
A startup support programme with Bangladesh ICT Division is also ongoing to cultivate entrepreneurship and foster innovative startups among the Bangladesh youth, the envoy said.
At the event, 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.
Youngone’s other significant CSR contributions include the conservation of royal Bengal tigers in the Sundarbans, employment of over 75 per cent female workers, construction of student dormitories in Mymensingh and support for autistic children through the contribution to the expansion of Proyash.
Youngone also helped in 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.
At the conference, representatives of Samsung Electronics, Samsung R&D Institute, Hyundai E&C and Dohwa Engineering also presented their respective CSR activities.
They shed light on various CSR projects conducted over the past years, including the establishment of community clinic and livelihood support for Matarbari residents, donation of personal protection equipment against Covid-19, donation for train accident relief and support for flood victims.
They also highlighted the projects for 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 (e.g. special app Look at Me for autistic children) to underprivileged students.
After the presentations, the guests and participants discussed ways to further deepen Korean companies’ engagement with the local communities.
By sharing 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 the strong bilateral commercial ties between Korea and Bangladesh.
Planning Minister MA Mannan graced the event as the chief guest together with Mostafa Kamal, president of Korea Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and chairman of Meghna Group of Industries, and Sudipto Mukerjee, resident representative of UNDP Bangladesh, as special guests.
Ambassador Lee and Farooq Sobhan, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the CSR Centre, co-hosted the virtual conference.
