NH Financial Group aids rural self-reliance projects in Vietnam

NH Financial Group has launched a global social contribution initiative to help rural residents in Vietnam identify and resolve issues in their own communities.

The financial group said Wednesday that it held a launch ceremony and local volunteer activities for the "NH Change Makers" program in Vietnam over two days, from Monday to Tuesday. The event was held in partnership with Good Neighbors, a global nongovernmental organization focused on children's rights.

NH Change Makers is a project designed to help residents in rural Vietnamese communities solve social problems on their own. It is a participatory social contribution model in which local residents identify and carry out projects themselves, going beyond one-off support to focus on strengthening the foundation for self-reliance.

In response, the group held a launch ceremony Tuesday for a contest-based project to support community-driven solutions to local social issues. This year's contest drew about 40 project ideas, from which three were selected following a review process.

The ceremony was attended by Im Do-gon, vice president of NH Financial Group's growth strategy division, and Ji Seong-uk, head of NongHyup Bank's Hanoi Financial Center. Also attending were Moon Seong-geun, head of NH Investment's Vietnam unit, and Cho Eun-seung, head of Good Neighbors Vietnam. Vietnamese government officials, including the chairs of the people's committees in the areas where the selected projects will take place, along with local residents, also took part.

Earlier, on Monday, NH Financial Group employees visited Son Thuy commune in Vietnam's Tuyen Quang province, where they delivered donated goods to local residents and children. They also planted trees together with residents to help create a sustainable rural environment.

"It is meaningful that NH Financial Group, which grew on the foundation of Korea's agricultural and rural sectors, can contribute to the sustainable development and self-reliance of rural communities in Vietnam," said Im Do-gon, vice president of NH Financial Group. "We will continue to practice inclusive growth and shared value based on a strong partnership with the local government and community."

NH Financial Group has designated Vietnam as a key hub for its global business. It is expanding its localization strategy and social contribution activities through channels including NongHyup Bank's Hanoi Financial Center, its Ho Chi Minh City office and NH Investment's Vietnam unit.