In the News: Growth Summit, Foreign Jobs, and Tennessee
My thoughts quoted in The Leaf-Chronicle — TheLeafChronicle.com
Hankook — a company that promises 1,800 new jobs here within the next few years — is evidence of how Korea’s export-driven economy is taking form in the United States. New foreign direct investment in the U.S. stems from consumer demand, relative political stability, the perception among Koreans of opportunity abroad and other factors, the panelists said.
But there also are impediments to pay heed to as we seek to attract more foreign companies and their jobs and investment, said the panel. They include sensitive currency exchange rates, a perceived lack of trained and qualified workers here, and a sometimes over-regulated and litigious business environment.
Southerton said that Clarksville-Montgomery County is nevertheless in good position to create a welcoming business climate that will show other large Korean companies, such as Samsung, for example, that this is a good place to be.
“Know that quality of life is very important to Korean people,” Southerton told the local audience. “For example, they are really concerned about where their kids are going to go to school, and I have been told that (Clarksville-Montgomery County School System) is highly ranked in this state. That is very important. Education is the No. 1 priority for Koreans. Churches are also very important, and with (Fort Campbell) you are appealing to Koreans with a multicultural population.
“If Hankook Tire is successful in this area, it will help attract other foreign companies to your community,” he said. #hankooktire #ClarksvilleTennessee #KoreaFDI #USKoreaConnect #Korea
About Don https://about.me/don.southerton
