The specialty chemical
industry is estimated and promoted as a major industry
for further product development, especially low pollution
and environment friendly products, as its related industries
develop along with diversification of social demands
and high-standard products which require the technology
of the specialty chemical industry.
However, the specialty chemical
industry could not comply with the demands of new high-tech
material development and of the domestic and international
environmental problems positively. Moreover, implementation
of the product patent system and the WTO operations
and entry into the OECD require more internationalization
and globalizaton which would result in serious avoidance
of major and core technology transfer form the advanced
nations to Korea. Korea needs to reconsider international
competitiveness in this industry through new advanced
product development and improving the Korean specialty
chemical industry competitiveness internationally.
This specialty chemical industry
is what the industry expects further development and
growth only when the production process technology of
intermediates, raw materials and end products from the
basic materials are developed. In the case of Korea,
the lack of technology in intermediates and raw materials
causes the industry to be hollowed out so that the inks
among the industries are very important and need urgent
improvement.
Furthermore, the international
regulations become tighter and tighter on the environment
and safety measures in chemical materials, and the domestic
industry suffers from lack of new high-technology and
information related to the safety and efficiency evaluation,
and related facilities which become the barrier for
development of the specialty chemical industry in the
long term.
On the other hand, Korean economy
was suffered from IMF situation with the industrial
problems of high cost & low efficiency, but most
of economic indexes are rapidly improving while Korean
economy is getting out of the difficulties due to successful
control of industry frame and the Governmental &
national efforts.
The Government has sharply relaxed
the restriction about the financial liberalization,
foreigner's capital in vestment and technology transfer,
Actually several foreign companies invested capitals
in the last year for Korean specialty chemical industry
through M&A, joint venture etc. and are trying lively
at present. With these economic developments, Government
makes an environment of technology development and facilities
investment to the companies. The companies are endeavoring
to find new local market as well as world markets with
foreign capital introduction along with positive expansion
to R&D investment.
Accordingly, the prospect of
Korea specialty chemical industry looks very much brilliant,
and will be rised upto the level of advanced nations
in the near future along with strong international competitiveness
with much highly improved technology. |
