MELBOURNE: As part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Skill India' programme, India has reached out to the US, South Korea and Australia for securing their cooperation in skilling the youth for enhancing employment opportunities.
Labour Minister Narendra Singh Tomar met his counterparts of the three nations on the sidelines of the Labour and Employment Ministerial Conference of G20 nations here and deliberated various issues of mutual interest pertaining to labour and employment scenario.
As part of Modi's 'Skill India' programme, India has reached out to the US, South Korea and Australia for securing cooperation in skilling the youth. Appraising US Secretary of Labour Thomas Perez during his meeting about the 'Skill India' programme initiated by Prime Minister Modi, Tomar said that new ITIs are being opened up in unserved areas under Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) mode.
He said that to create skills matching the needs of the industry, the ministry is entering into flexi-MoUs with industry and designing customised training courses and added that under the new government, a new Skill Ministry has been created to focus on the task of skill development.
Observing that MoU between the two countries signed three years back has been particularly successful in ensuring cooperation in the area of occupational safety, Perez said the two countries can widen the scope of cooperation and work together in the field of skill development under the MoU.
"Both sides agreed to take the MoU forward and scale up their level of cooperation in the field of labour in the coming days," a ministry press statement said.
Perez also expressed his desire to learn from India's experience on meeting the challenge of job creation and increasing labour force participation rate on such a large scale. He offered full cooperation to India in its skill development efforts, the statement said.
Perez said that that the two largest and oldest democracies of the world have a number of things in common.
Tomar also met Minister of Employment and Labour of South Korea Lee Ki-kweon who proposed to have an MoU with India in distance learning programme and showed interest in need-based training initiated by India under flexi-MoU.
"Minister of Labour, Korea proposed that Hyundai can train youth who live or work around industrial locations of Hyundai in India, for enhancing their employability. Both ministers agreed for enhanced and sustained engagement at bilateral level," the statement said.
Tomar also met Australian Minister of Employment Eric Abetz who proposed signing of MoU between the two countries for taking forward the cooperation on labour issues especially to match the skill requirements of Australian industry.
"If a planned programme can be conceptualised to synchronise the skill requirements of Australian industry and the skill training in India, more Indians can come to Australia for work and it will be a win-win situation," he added.
source:economic times
Korean boy band N-Sonic wowed K-pop fans in India. N-Sonic is the first ever K-pop band to visit India, where the globally popular K-pop or K-wave does not have a great hold over, compared with other markets. On last August 30, N-Sonic performed at “K-POP Festival 2014 India” in Delhi, India, which was cohosted by the Korea Culture Centre India (KCCI) and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). A couple of thousand K-pop fans thronged into the festival, completely filling up the seats at the venue. Hundreds of fans who could not make it for the concert were forced to wait the band outside. At the concert, N-Sonic enchanted concrete attendees with dazzling performances and great charisma, decorating the concert with its hit songs like “Pop Beyond,” “Run & Run,” and “Television.” Many leading local media outlets competed fiercely for covering the concert and interviewing the band members. Following the concert, it was slated to hold a fan signing event; unfortunately, it was concealed so as to insulate the crowds from an unexpected accident caused by them flocking into the band members at once.
Even N-Sonic members were surprised to see thousands of fans rush to the concert hall in India. (image: C2K Entertainment )
Director Kim Kum-pyung of KCCI said, “At first, I was worried about this first Hallyu event here in India, but it turned out to be more than successful. As incredible as it seems, thousands of people flocked into the concert and prestigious Indian media outlets vied for covering the first Hallyu event,” and added, “I can dare to say that I assure the success of K-pop in India, observing it through N-Sonic. Considering the number of its fans, I expect the boy band to become a key distributor for Hallyu.” CEO Cho Gi-hoon of C2K Entertainment said, “The N-Sonic members are missing Korean fans in the middle of their tight concert schedules in Hong Kong, China and India. They have been working on for their new album from the very day that they came back from the Asian tour concert. Please wait and see them come back to you soon, not later.” On coming back from the month-long concert tour, N-Sonic is stepping up efforts to make a new album, looking forward to performing on a Korean stage. source:koreabizwire.com
From September 19 to October 4, the third most populous city of South Korea — Incheon — will host athletes and officials participating in 439 events spanning 36 sports, as part of the 2014 Asian Games. Indian travel agencies say that they have already started noticing a spike in interest to visit the country, which until a few years ago, didn’t even figure on the bucket-list for most Indian tourists.
“In 2012, 11.1 million foreign tourists visited South Korea, making it the 20th most-visited country in the world. Lately, we have seen a spurt in queries with the Asian Games about to begin,” says Vikram Malhi, MD, Asia, Expedia, adding that bookings have risen by 10 to 15%.
For Indian tourists, South Korea remains a relatively lesser-explored destination with perceptions about language barriers and difficulty in getting a visa being the biggest deterrents. That mindset is changing now.
“The increase [in interest levels and subsequently booking has been around 10% year on year. For the Asiads, we have been getting enquiries from sports fans for athletics, tennis, football and boxing events,” says Karan Anand, head-relationships, Cox And Kings.
In terms of sightseeing, Seoul is the main tourist destination due to its multiple Unesco World Heritage Sites — Changdeokgung Palace, Jongmyo Shrine and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty. The Hwaseong Fortress is nearby too. It is also known for its street food, nightlife districts and serene Buddhist temples.
There’s a lot more to see beyond the capital, and the cities of Busan and Incheon.
“As a centre for marine tourism, South Korea enjoys rich off-shore locations — beach cities like Gyeongju to explore great culinary haunts and nightlife, and popular island destinations like Jeju. For those into history and culture, the country has locales with old-style dwellings as well as palaces dedicated to erstwhile ruling dynasties in the Ganghwa region. Andong Hahoe Folk Village offers a view into traditional Korean culture,” says Vicki Parris, national brand leader, India, Flight Shop.
SHOPPING
Koreans are quality conscious and even the flea markets there offer bargain buys with assured product shelf-life. The country is a popular shopping destination for electronics too. Shopaholics can explore districts like the Dongdaemun Market in Seoul. Similarly, BIFF Square in Busan is a street shopper’s delight. South Korea houses some of the biggest luxury brands in the world.
Cheongdam Fashion Street is a shopping destination for luxury purchases. “Gwangjang market in Seoul feels like it’s been frozen in time; food and fabrics are sold here. Doota is one of the largest fashion malls at Dongdaemun Market and is filled with domestic brands. The famous Namdaemun Market (in Seoul) specialises in cheap clothing and accessories. One can get everything here, from food and flowers to spectacles and seaweed,” says Vishal Suri, chief executive officer-tour operating, Kuoni India.
Jeju Island: Also known as the ‘Island Of The Gods’ (like Bali), it is a great place to cherish picturesque beauty. Udo is one of the most-visited spots here — its main attraction is a submarine excursion to two caves, including one to the Dongangyeonggul Cave. One can also vist the Cheonjiyeon Falls and Spirited Garden.
Seongsan Ilchulbong Sunrise Peak: Hydrovolcanic eruptions formed this majestic volcanic crater 5,000 years ago on Jeju Island. A Unesco World Heritage Site, it is best known for the magnificent view of the sun rising over it.
Andong Hahoe Folk Village: Head here to soak up Korean culture.
Manisan Mountain: Considered one of the most sacred mountains in South Korea, it is also a favourite haunt among trekkers.
Cheomseongdae: It is home to the oldest existing astronomical observatory in Asia.
Ulleungdo Island: Nicknamed ‘Mysterious Island’, it is a popular weekend getaway spot for locals. Curious rock formations, shore cliffs and numerous waterfalls adorn the island.
Gyeongju: An ancient capital of the Shilla Dynasty, it is often referred to as “a museum with no walls”. It is home to South Korea’s first nominated Unesco World Heritage site.
The Korean Demilitarised Zone: This strip of land runs across the Korean Peninsula. It acts as a buffer zone between North and South Korea.
source:hindustan times
For Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo, this year’s Chuseok was just like any other day of work.
While most Koreans went to their hometowns to see relatives and friends, Chung was out of the country, visiting Hyundai Motor’s plants in India and Turkey to check whether the company’s production and sales strategy for its small cars is on the right track.
“Chung’s business trip to India and Turkey is to check the quality of their localized models following the strategic role changes of two plants,” the company said in a statement.
“The India plant, which was the forefront export base to Europe, has changed its role to focus on the domestic market, while the Turkey plant has reinforced its role as a European mini car production base.”
Hyundai has been implementing a two-track localized strategy centered on its plants in India and Turkey. Both make i10 and i20 city cars, but although the vehicles share the same body and design their sizes and various interior features differ. And according to Hyundai, the changes on the new i20 will make them even more distinct.
The world’s fifth-largest automaker said its plant in Chennai, India, stopped shipping to Europe about two months ago. The region used to be Hyundai Motor India’s largest market, with 40 percent of its exports shipped there.
“The best competitiveness comes from thorough localization,” said Chung, who left for India on Saturday. “We also need to secure emerging markets like the Middle East and Africa with the Indian and Turkish plants serving as an axis of localization.”
For the first part of his schedule, Chung visited the production line of the India plant on Sunday to check the quality of the new Elite i20, which began mass production just last month. It was his first time to India since 2010.
Chung said that the Chennai plant should focus on supplying a “market-dominating product” for India in order to expand Hyundai’s presence there.
“The Indian market recently started to recover,” said Chung. “The new i20 is the first product from the India plant with its changed role, and with a localized sales strategy we should secure a clear advantage in this market.”
Expecting economic growth from India’s large population, Hyundai set up a production base there in 1998, churning out models like the Santro, EON, i10 and i20, and becoming the country’s second-largest automaker.
The Indian passenger car market last year suffered a decline for the first time in 11 years because of expensive gas prices, and high interest and currency rates. According to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, passenger car sales dropped 9.6 percent year-on-year to 1.8 million units.
But with the new Indian government extending consumption tax deductions until the end of this year, Hyundai expects that India’s entire auto market will grow by 2.7 percent.
Korea’s largest automaker has had success so far this year after selling 269,025 units in the first eight months, up 7.1 percent from a year ago - far above the industry average of 1.4 percent growth.
After India, Chung visited Hyundai’s Turkish plant in Izmit yesterday, emphasizing that the production base established there in 1997 has been given a more important role. It is now regarded as Hyundai’s forefront production base along with its plant in the Czech Republic.
The automaker invested more than $600 million to double the plant’s annual capacity to 200,000 units last year. The plant is set to roll out a new i20 localized for Europeans next month.
“In order to make the Turkish-made i20 lead the European market, we should put our best effort forward to have premium production quality,” Chung said.
The European-style i20 is scheduled to be revealed at the Paris Motor Show next month. Hyundai said that it will be more “luxurious” than the Indian-made i20. Hyundai is hoping for the new i20 to boost its sales in Europe. The automaker has been struggling in the continent, selling 219,617 vehicles in the first half, down 2.4 percent from a year ago according to European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association data.
“This year, both the plants in India and Turkey are expected to deliver performances better than our original annual goal,” the spokesman from Hyundai said.
“With exports from Korea struggling because of industrial action from the union, expanding sales from overseas will play an important to role in achieving the company’s global sales goal.”
For the first time Korean Cultural Centre India is organizing Korean language teachers training course. Those who are interested may contact the centre.
1. Period: 14th October 2014 (Tuesday) ~ 19th February 2015 (Thursday) 2. Time: Tues, Thurs (4pm~6pm), Saturday (2pm~5pm) 3. Venue: Korean Cultural Centre India 4. Fees: 15,000Rs. 5. Instructor Vyjayanti Raghavan (Dean of Korean Language Department, JNU) Vaishna Narang (Dean of Linguistic Department, JNU) Kim Do-young (Visiting Professor, University of Delhi) Lee Hyun-Kyung (Visiting Professor, JNU) Kwak Mira (Instructor recruited by Korea government, King Sejong Institute, Korean Cultural Centre India) 6. Eligibility Indian: Bachelor Degree with TOPIK more than level 4. Korean: Bachelor Degree with experienced of teaching Korean language, Bachelor Degree with experienced of Korean language teaching course. 7. Contents: - Korean Language, Linguistics, Korean Language education as a foreign language, Korean Culture, Korean Language teaching practice, etc. 8. Merits of the course - Will be certified by Korean Cultural Centre India. - Will be recruited to King Sejong Institute as a language Instructor or to a Korean company, etc.
▶Orientation Day/Time: 14th October 2014 (Tues) at 3pm. Venue: Auditorium, Korean Cultural Centre India.
A map made by the Japanese government that recognizes South Korea’s ownership of its easternmost islets of Dokdo was unveiled on Sunday, in a clear piece of evidence refuting Japan’s repeated claim to the territory.
The map indicates that Japan’s continued territorial claim to the Dokdo islets is wrongfully made as the Japanese government used the map to mark its own territory when it clinched a peace treaty with Allied forces in September 1951 following its defeat in World War II.
The Dokdo islets, which lie closer to South Korea than Japan in waters between the two countries, have been a thorny issue in the countries’ relations. South Korea keeps a small police detachment on the islets.
A map made by the Japanese government that recognizes South Korea’s ownership of its easternmost islets of Dokdo was unveiled on Sunday, in a clear piece of evidence refuting Japan’s repeated claim to the territory. (Yonhap)
Chung Tae-man, a researcher on Dokdo, recently unveiled a scanned file of the map, drawn by the Japanese government in August 1951, which clearly excludes Dokdo from Tokyo’s territory, according to the Northeast Asian History Foundation.
Conservative groups in Japan have insisted that the Dokdo islets were included as its territory on the map, but Japanese researchers have not yet revealed the document.
“Japan has claimed that its peace treaty with allied forces did not state that Dokdo is South Korean territory,” Chung said. “But the map shows that Japan and allied forces had recognized South Korea’s ownership of Dokdo at that time.”
Chung said that he found the scan of the map on a website operated by a conservative Japanese who said the map was obtained from Japan’s National Diet Library.
South Korea has denounced Japan’s repeated claim to Dokdo, calling it an “unjustifiable” move that will do nothing to help improve already chilly bilateral relations.
South Korea has rejected Japan’s claim as nonsense because the country regained its independence from Japanese colonial rule in 1945 and reclaimed sovereignty over its territories, including Dokdo and many other islands around the Korean Peninsula.
source:(Yonhap)
Since independence in 1947 Indians have looked mostly to
the West for economic inspiration. The country has sent millions of expats to
the US and Britain, and has developed ties with Western companies eager to tap
into the huge Indian market.
But things are changing.Already, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took office in May, has built a
strong relationship with Japan’s Shinzo Abe — riding a huge influx of interest
from the East Asian nation’s entrepreneurs and executives.
Andre Penner /
AP
Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modi has built a strong relationship with Japan’s Shinzo Abe —
riding a huge influx of interest from the East Asian nation’s entrepreneurs and
executiv
Despite a high-profile exodus of Western companies from India, a
GlobalPost analysis reveals that Japanese, Korean and Singaporean applications
for business visas have shot up in the last year. American and British
applications have remained flat.
Western firms have been cautious about India’s economic prospects since things slowed
down in 2012.
But figures released by the Indian government show that Asia’s economic
powerhouses are much more enthusiastic.
“Now I would say that about 50 to 55 percent of assignments come from
Asia"
In 2012, India issued a total of 26,869 business visas from its consulates in
Japan. In the first ten months of 2013 (the most recent available stats) the
number had jumped to 40,960, an 80 percent annualized increase.
There was a similar jump for South Korean business visas. A total of 18,044
visas were granted in 2012, and by October 2013, India had issued 20,985 visas
for the year. That’s an estimated 40 percent increase annually.
Singapore business visas also jumped by about 50 percent, from 15,871 in 2012
to 20,059 in the first ten months of 2013.
In contrast, business visas issued to American and British applicants
remained largely static. India handed out 55,629 business visas to Americans and
58,051 to Britons, and by October last year those figures looked likely to be
repeated for 2013.
DIVYAKANT
SOLANKI / EPA
Indian commuters
wait on an over-crowded platform to board a local train at a suburb railway
station in Mumbai, on July 10, 2014. Japanese brokerage Nomura said in a note
last month that Japan’s government is targeting high-speed rail and power
generation in India as areas for growth.
The people who help expats settle in India have noticed the growing number of
East Asian businesses. Komal Smriti, of Sterling Relocation, said around 80 percent of
her clients used to be from Europe or America.
“Now I would say that about 50 to 55 percent of assignments come from Asia,”
she said. “Primarily these are large manufacturing base companies that are
coming.”
Japanese brokerage Nomura said in a note in July that Japan’s government is targeting high-speed rail
and power generation as areas for growth. Many Asian companies are involved in
infrastructure developments between Delhi and Mumbai. Nomura predicted that if
Modi is successful in cutting red tape, investment could rise by up to 15
percent.
“When a Western company comes here, they might send four or five expatriates.
But when you deal with a Japanese or Korean company, the number of people coming
is three or four times more"
India signed a trade deal with Japan in 2011, and there are now
around 1,000 Japanese businesses operating in India, part of Delhi’s so-called
“Look East” strategy.
The new government in Delhi looks to be propelling the trend forward.
Modi and Abe appear to have good personal chemistry, having met and stayed in contact long
before either gained power. Both are wary of their larger, shared neighbor,
China.
Yet total trade has not risen in line with the growth in business ties so
far. In 2011-12, India’s trade with Japan was $18.3 billion. That grew only
slightly, to $18.5 billion, by 2012-13.
Although the rise in business visas is partly due to more Asian companies
investing in India, other factors also come into play, Sterling's Smriti
said.
PIB / AFP -
Getty Images
President and CEO of
Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation Ken Kebayashi (L) sits with Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi ahead of a meeting in New Delhi on July 29, 2014. India signed a
trade deal with Japan in 2011, and there are now around 1,000 Japanese
businesses operating in India, part of Delhi’s so-called “Look East”
strategy.
“When a Western company comes here, they might send four or five expatriates.
But when you deal with a Japanese or Korean company, the number of people coming
is three or four times more. They don’t just send the senior level management —
also the middle level management come out.”
Western firms are sending more short-term assignees instead, she said.
For Indians, dealing with people from East Asia is not as straightforward as
Westerners might believe.
Smriti said their requirements could be hard for relocation agencies to
fulfil. No Asian expat will take a property without a bath, she said, which
often involves re-plumbing the hot water system.
“Bathrooms are something they have very specific requirements for,” Smriti
said. “Some of the clients have spent a great deal of money on a toilet seat
cover. A padded one, or ones which are heated. They are not easy to get. We had
to search through all the hardware stores to find where we could get one.”
India’s frequent power outages are not borne lightly either. Most families
require both an oil-fueled electricity generator and a battery back-up.
“An assignee from the US or England would never say ‘Even though I have a
generator, I still need a Uninterruptible Power Supply unit,” Smriti said.
PARIVARTAN
SHARMA / Reuters
Tangled overhead
electric power cables are pictured at a residential area as children stand on
the roof of a house in Noida on the outskirts of New Delhi . India’s frequent
power outages are not borne lightly by expatriates. Most families require both
an oil-fueled electricity generator and a battery back-up.
Andre Penner /
AP
DIVYAKANT
SOLANKI / EPA
PIB / AFP -
Getty Images
PARIVARTAN
SHARMA / Reuters
