Minister for Works, Transport and Public Utilities Captain (Navy) Timoci Natuva (front sixth left) with other participants of the Symposium on Exploring Korean Contributions to the Blue-Green Economy of the Pacific region at the Holiday Inn Suva yesterday. Photo: PAULINI RATULAILAI
Suva
There is a need for the Pacific island countries to understand the Korean business culture in order to continue the momentum and building of bilateral trades.
This was the remark by Fijian Ambassador to Korea, Filimone Kau, during the opening of the Symposium on Exploring Korean Contributions to the Blue-Green Economy of the Pacific Region yesterday.
The one-day symposium was held at Holiday Inn Suva with speakers from key organisations in Korea, Fiji and the Pacific Islands.
With Korea’s impressive shift from being a beneficiary to a donor economy, there was much to learn from what Mr Kau described as is well-known as Korea’s pali pali system.
“Sometimes if they do not understand the processes at the local level, at the national and regional level, they will be frustrated and will return empty-handed,” Mr Kau said.
“In that process, for those of us who need to accommodate that interest, we need to get into a serious pali pali (sense of urgency) mode.
“We need to be on one accord. In order for us to be stronger in our relationship, we need to interact first at a personal level and understand their culture of doing business.”
Mr Kau acknowledged Government’s policies and business partnerships that enabled Korea to develop a business network, one of which was GIMCO-Tropik Woods, a biomass waste initiative.
Korean keen
Korean Ambassador to Fiji Seong-in KIM said Korea was very keen to support and strengthen ties with Fiji and the rest of the Pacific islands on sustaining a Blue-Green Economy.
“Korea is a country that has rapidly developed and is one of the world’s leading countries in areas such as shipbuilding, ocean technologies, telecommunications, IT and scientific and technological research,” Mr Seong-In said.
“I strongly believe Korea and the Pacific region could mutually benefit with better and deeper involvement of Korean technological expertise in this region.”
The event, he said, was meant to provide interactive dialogue to explore possible areas of mutual interest between Korea and the Pacific.
This is in the application of science and technologies to the Blue-Green Economy and the business opportunities that could arise, Mr Seong-In said of the symposium.
maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj
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