Korean investment in Viet Nam is expected to rise further, increasing demand for labour, according to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (Kotra).

South Korea is already the largest foreign investor in Viet Nam, according to the Foreign Investment Agency, with a total of US$64.55 billion in 7,905 projects, accounting for over 18 per cent of FDI.

At a Korea-Viet Nam job fair that opened on June 28 in HCM City, 45 Korean firms hired Vietnamese for positions in production, quality management, import-export management, HR, interpretation, accounting, sales and marketing, with the largest demand being for sales, marketing and production management personnel and interpreters.

They included subsidiaries of major companies such as Lotte, Posco, LG, Daesang, Emart, Shinhan Bank, and Korea Exchange Bank,

Nearly 1,400 Vietnamese took part in the fair.

Speaking about the Vietnamese workforce, Kim Hyeri, a Kotra executive in HCM City, said its quality has improved significantly in recent years.

Vietnamese labourers are diligent and scrupulous but need to improve their technical skills, she said.

The fair also featured a seminar on start-ups to apprise students and graduates with information about the countrys start-up eco-system and support programmes that are available for start-up individuals and organisations.

Organised by KOTRA and the South Korean consulate in HCM City annually since 2013, the fair seeks to support Korean companies but also offer Vietnamese students an opportunity to embark on careers. — VNS