Yeosu, Haenam, Gyeongsan, Miryang, etc... 3 Billion Won Support Over 4 Years
Fostering Convergent Regional Hubs... "Job Creation and Added Value Generation"
[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government announced on the 18th that it has selected four local governments as project sites this year to establish regional hubs for convergence industries ranging from agricultural production to tourism. The aim is to induce the creation of jobs and added value.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that this year’s rural convergence industry district development project sites include Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do (Dolsan Gat), Haenam-gun (sweet potato), Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do (jujube), and Miryang-si, Gyeongsangnam-do (strawberry). It will provide 3 billion KRW over four years (50% national funds, 50% local funds and self-contributions). The support funds can be used for linkage and cooperation among rural industry stakeholders such as farmers, manufacturing and processing companies, distribution companies, and tourism, as well as for building joint infrastructure, technology and management consulting, and joint promotion and marketing.
2021 Rural Convergence Industry Selected District Project Overview. (Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Ministry plans to revise and supplement the district development plans through expert consultations in fields such as agriculture, manufacturing and processing, distribution, and experience and tourism, and then officially designate the local governments as convergence industry districts. It will continuously manage the projects through performance inspections and management of performance indicators such as sales of specialized agricultural products, jobs, visitors, and contract cultivation rates.
An official from the Ministry said, "The four selected cities and counties have excellent conditions, such as well-established specialized agricultural product branding and concentrated resources linking the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries. We expect them to become successful models in the future."
The Ministry conducted pilot projects in three districts in 2014: Yeongdong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do (grape wine), Sunchang-gun, Jeollanam-do (fermented soybean paste), and Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do (green tea). By last year, it had selected 28 sites including Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon-do (Korean beef), Uiseong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do (garlic), Imsil-gun, Jeollabuk-do (cheese), and Seongju-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do (oriental melon).
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