By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak called on all public employees to share a sense of urgency in making his ``Green New Deal'' projects a success, saying close cooperation between the central and provincial governments was key to overcoming current economic challenges.
``All public servants, no matter where they work, should know nothing will be achieved without pain and sweat,'' Lee said after his Cabinet approved the 50-trillion-won state venture to develop ``green'' industries and create jobs over the next four years.
Lee called for a thorough inspection of budget spending, saying the administration's plan to spend 60 percent of it's national budget in the first half of this year may cause side-effects.
``Cities and provinces should actively participate in the projects to help the country tide over the crisis. There will be no achievement without their collaboration,'' Lee said.
The administration plans to provide diverse financial and tax benefits to firms participating in the projects and open a consultation body between the government and companies to encourage participation in the private sector.
At a meeting with business executives Monday, Lee called for active investment from companies, saying the global economic crisis will also provide many opportunities to Korean firms.
Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, outlining the Green New Deal projects at a news conference in Seoul, said the government will soon launch a new presidential commission on green growth.
``The government will consolidate its job creation and green growth policies to better prepare for the future,'' Han said. ``The government's top priority is to create more job opportunities in the face of the global economic crisis. At the same time, it will actively implement green growth strategies to enhance its economic growth potential.''
The projects came less than five months after President Lee announced in an Aug. 15 Liberation Day speech that his administration would pursue the values of ``low carbon and green growth'' to create more jobs and find new growth engines.
In a New Year address on Friday, Lee said his administration will go all-out to ride out the economic crisis by setting the administration in emergency economy rescue mode while stepping up preparations for the future and green growth.