[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province will change the names of existing public institutions or establish new ones to focus on housing, transportation, environment, and economic free zone development, which are directly linked to the quality of life of its 13.7 million residents.
According to Gyeonggi Province on the 29th, the province will rename the Hwanghae Economic Free Zone Authority to the "Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone Authority" on the 1st of next month. This name change is a measure to solidify its identity as the only economic free zone authority in Gyeonggi Province and to enhance its brand value.
As its first project after the name change, the Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone Authority will participate in the development project of the Siheung Baegot District, which was designated as an economic free zone in June.
The Hwanghae Economic Free Zone was designated in 2008 around Pyeongtaek and Dangjin ports and was jointly used as a shared brand "Hwanghae" with Chungcheongnam-do. After the dissolution of the association, it has been operated as a Gyeonggi Province branch office since 2015.
Yang Jin-cheol, head of the Gyeonggi Economic Free Zone Authority, explained, "This name change is not simply about changing the name but aims to create an economic free zone that matches the global status of Gyeonggi Province by realizing a fair economic ecosystem through win-win cooperation and co-growth with companies."
Earlier in June, the province changed the name of the Gyeonggi Urban Corporation to Gyeonggi Housing and Urban Corporation (GH) after 13 years.
The province included the word "housing" in the new name to express its intention to serve as a public housing policy control tower that supplies good residential areas, not just simple real estate development projects.
Accordingly, GH will focus on supplying public rental housing (basic housing) for over 30 years, a key project promoted by Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province.
Lee Heon-wook, president of GH, emphasized, "By including the word 'housing' in the name, we highlighted GH's innovation and identity and guaranteed transformation and growth as a 'public housing welfare platform company.' GH will take the lead in solving housing and employment issues in Gyeonggi Province and actively provide public services to make Gyeonggi a better place to live."
GH has accumulated development capabilities and expertise as a metropolitan urban development corporation by promoting major base development projects in the province, such as the Gwanggyo New Town (Suwon), Dasan New Town (Namyangju), and Pangyo Techno Valley (Seongnam), as well as industrial complexes.
In the future, GH plans to actively participate in the development of industrial complexes for the balanced development of the 3rd phase new towns such as Gwacheon and Hanam and the underdeveloped northern areas.
The province will also establish the "Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation," which will integrate and manage public transportation systems such as public buses, and the "Gyeonggi Environment and Energy Promotion Agency," responsible for fine dust reduction and the spread of renewable energy, within this year.
The Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation will be responsible for ▲ operating new transportation modes such as demand-tailored buses ▲ developing and opening a DRT (Demand Responsive Transport) platform that combines Gyeonggi-style buses and taxis, which operates flexibly without fixed routes based on passenger requests and demand ▲ operating a quasi-public system for Gyeonggi public bus route bidding ▲ acting as an agent for city and county railway operation negotiations and managing railway operation consignment companies.
Additionally, to expand metropolitan transportation facilities, transfer facilities will be installed at metropolitan hubs, and efforts will be made to improve public transportation transfer convenience through efficient operation and management.
Furthermore, projects entrusted by Gyeonggi Province, such as the G-Bus Lounge project and youth transportation cost support project, will also be carried out.
The Gyeonggi Environment and Energy Promotion Agency will be responsible for reducing fine dust in the metropolitan area and promoting the spread of renewable energy. The province completed establishment consultations in the first half of this year and aims to open the agency within this year. Through a prior public contest, the province has finally decided to establish the Environment Promotion Agency in Gimpo City.
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