Gov’t helps firms get environmental jobs

Local builders are benefiting from teaming up with the Ministry of Environment by landing environment-related construction jobs in countries overseas.

SK Engineering and Construction said yesterday that in conjunction with the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (Keiti), it has been hired by Myanmar’s government to upgrade water and sewage systems and waste disposal facilities.

The construction arm of SK Group said it will build a purification plant and 105-kilometer (65-mile) pipeline in the city of Yangon. The project is estimated to be worth $250 million.

The company said that the job will further bring it closer to Myanmar, where foreign investments have been piling in since its nominally civilian government started reforms in 2011. Its market for environmental projects is currently estimated at $2 billion but is expected to double in 2030, according to SK E&C.

“With the support of the Ministry of Environment and Keiti, we were able to enter Myanmar where growth potential is abundant,” the company said in a release. “From this opportunity, we will secure other projects in Myanmar and export our environmental technologies to other countries.”

Last week, Daelim Industrial said it has entered the water business in Laos with support from the ministry and Keiti.

Daelim, the nation’s sixth-largest builder, said it will form a consortium with three other companies and build a sewage project for five areas in Laos expected to be worth 200 billion won ($179 million). The consortium will also consult on water supply and management.

Since 2007, the Korean government has been encouraging local companies to enter environmental businesses in emerging markets. It has connected companies with 12 countries. This year, it will concentrate on Laos, Myanmar, Colombia and Mexico.

A Korean delegation led by Deputy Minister of Environment Jeong Yeon-man recently visited those countries.

By Joo Kyung-don [kjoo@joongang.co.kr]