Kocham Chairman Kim Heung Soo said the success of the programme was due to the support of the Korean business community and local authorities.
The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in HCM City collected around VND4.64 billion (US$206,000) from the 14th KOCHAM Charity Night it held last Friday to raise funds for supporting charity organisations and sponsoring associations for children, disabled people and poor patients in HCM City and neighbouring provinces.
Some 130 South Korean enterprises contributed VND4.04 billion in cash and VND600 million in gifts on the occasion.
Taking part in the event were Park Noh Wan, consul general of the Republic of Korea, Kocham chairman Kim Heung Soo, and officials from the city People's Committee and foreign affairs, customs, taxation and labour, invalids and social affairs departments of the city and five provinces.
Also present were officials from sponsoring associations for disabled people and orphans in HCM City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and Long An; the Thien Phuoc Disabled Children Nourishing Centre; the HCM City Eye Hospital; and business groups of other countries and more than 200 Korean business executives, sponsors of the event.
Hong Won Sik, representative of LOTTE Group in Việt Nam, donates VNĐ230 million to the Kocham charity fund. — File Photo
Addressing the event, Kocham chairman Kim Heung Soo said he was deeply impressed by the active contributions and efforts for the community made by the Korean business community and the support provided by local governments for its activities.
He promised that Kocham would make more efforts to not only help the community but also safeguard the interests of donors and to ensure that donations are always used for “noble" purposes.
This year the major sponsors were LOTTE Group, Hwaseung Vina, Taekwang Vina, Daekwang Maika, Hyosung Vietnam, Sunghyun Vina, and CJ Corporation.
Hong Won Sik of LOTTE Group said when doing business it is important to not just strive for good business results but also pay attention to developing social and communal relations.
LOTTE attaches great importance to social activities, organises many meaningful CSR programmes and has established the Choice L fund.
Korean firms combining hands to support the development of Việt Nam is an extremely important link in the development of Vietnamese-Korean co-operation.
KOCHAM Charity Night not only aimed to create a platform for Korean companies doing business in Việt Nam to meet and strengthen their friendship but also solicit their assistance for disadvantaged people in Việt Nam.
Representatives of LOTTE Group and other Korean firms hand over cheques to representatives of charity organisations and sponsoring associations for children, disabled people and poor patients in HCM City and neighbouring provinces.
Kotra donated VND1.57 billion in cash and VND500 million worth of gifts and essential goods to the HCM City Children’s Disability Association; the Orphanage and Poor Patients Protection Association of Binh Duong Province; the Orphanage, Disabled Children Care Centre of Dong Nai Province; the Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin Social Protection of Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province; the Social Protection Centre of Long An Province; the HCM City Eye Hospital; the Patient Support Fund; the Thien Phuoc Disability Facility, the Korean Elder Citizen Association in Viet Nam; and the Korean Support Fund.
The remaining funds will be used by KOCHAM for other charitable activities during the year such as building free houses, giving scholarships, presenting Lunar New Year gifts, assisting people affected by natural disasters and floods, and others.
While the amount may not be huge, it does go towards providing a better life and future for children with disabilities and disadvantaged people.
This will also be a foundation for expanding the programme and involving more Korean companies in efforts to assist the community.
Kocham, established in 2003, has nearly 700 members and represents over 2,500 Korean companies that have invested in the central and southern regions of Viet Nam, including many large enterprises operating in many important sectors.
It has branches in HCM City and the provinces of Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and Long An.
It has four main business branches -- garments, finance, commerce, and logistics.
KOCHAM has organised the Charity Night every year since 2004, and attracts increasing interest among Korean enterprises.