ID :
37213
Thu, 12/25/2008 - 06:29
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/37213
The shortlink copeid
Lee urges underprivileged people not to lose hope
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak asked the underprivileged on Tuesday not to lose hope for an imminent economic recovery, forecasting that an economic revival will be visible in South Korea starting in 2010.
Meeting with a group of 250 randomly selected poor people over lunch at the
presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, Lee promised to further reinforce various
social safety nets to mitigate the impact of the ongoing economic crisis on
impoverished households.
"The government will proactively take measures to relieve the economic pain of
the victims of the economic crisis," said Lee.
"In these tough economic times, it is important to encourage and take care of one
another. Please trust the government's effort to strengthen social safety nets,
and don't lose hope for a bright future," said the president.
Lee also looked back on his childhood days, when he earned a living as a street
food vendor and then worked as a day laborer and street cleaner to put himself
through university.
Cheong Wa Dae said people from various walks of life, including street cleaners,
street vendors, taxi drivers and newspaper deliverers, were invited to the
year-end lunch with the president.
Presiding over a meeting of the National Economic Advisory Council on Tuesday
afternoon, meanwhile, Lee instructed his Cabinet ministers and ranking officials
to visit domestic small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) more frequently to
take a first-hand look at their hardships and difficulties.
"I heard economy-related ministers have had frequent field trips. In my view,
however, their efforts (to understand small businesses' difficulties) are not
sufficient yet," said Lee.
In response, private sector members of the presidential advisory council
recommended that state-run banks be allowed to play a greater role in easing the
credit crunch and revitalizing the economy. They also proposed that retired
government officials and conglomerate executives be allowed to offer global
market consulting services to SMEs.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
Meeting with a group of 250 randomly selected poor people over lunch at the
presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, Lee promised to further reinforce various
social safety nets to mitigate the impact of the ongoing economic crisis on
impoverished households.
"The government will proactively take measures to relieve the economic pain of
the victims of the economic crisis," said Lee.
"In these tough economic times, it is important to encourage and take care of one
another. Please trust the government's effort to strengthen social safety nets,
and don't lose hope for a bright future," said the president.
Lee also looked back on his childhood days, when he earned a living as a street
food vendor and then worked as a day laborer and street cleaner to put himself
through university.
Cheong Wa Dae said people from various walks of life, including street cleaners,
street vendors, taxi drivers and newspaper deliverers, were invited to the
year-end lunch with the president.
Presiding over a meeting of the National Economic Advisory Council on Tuesday
afternoon, meanwhile, Lee instructed his Cabinet ministers and ranking officials
to visit domestic small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) more frequently to
take a first-hand look at their hardships and difficulties.
"I heard economy-related ministers have had frequent field trips. In my view,
however, their efforts (to understand small businesses' difficulties) are not
sufficient yet," said Lee.
In response, private sector members of the presidential advisory council
recommended that state-run banks be allowed to play a greater role in easing the
credit crunch and revitalizing the economy. They also proposed that retired
government officials and conglomerate executives be allowed to offer global
market consulting services to SMEs.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)
