In mid-January 2024, South Korea-invested CJ Vietnam organized a community program to provide free medical examinations and treatments for nearly 1,400 residents in Tam Ngan Hamlet in Ninh Thuan Province’s Ninh Son District. A volunteer team of 23 members, mostly doctors and nurses, conducted medical examinations, distributed medication, provided health advice, and instructed on personal hygiene to the locals who are mainly ethnic minorities with limited access to healthcare facilities. Various medications were provided to address common ailments such as dental, dermatological, gastrointestinal, hypertension, and infectious diseases.
This marks the second time CJ Group has collaborated with South Korean medical volunteer teams to launch voluntary medical treatment activities for the local residents.
Alongside agricultural and educational contribution projects, the healthcare sector is the new community sphere in CJ Group’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitment to improving the socio-economic conditions and livelihoods of people in many parts of Vietnam.
Support for farmers
Tam Ngan Hamlet where CJ Group rolled out medical assistance support for locals is also the focal point of the “Chili Material Zone” project implemented by CJ Group since 2013. Under this project, local farmers receive guidance from South Korean experts on chili farming techniques according to Korean standards. Subsequently, CJ purchases all the chili output for the processing plants it has constructed. With an investment of US$2.1 million, the chili cultivation project has provided stable income and improved the quality of life for the community.
Currently, CJ Group is also collaborating with KOICA to develop specific plans to continue supporting the “Building new countryside linked to agricultural value chain” project in line with the Korean chili cultivation model from 2024 to 2026.
“We believe that with the support of the Ninh Thuan Provincial People’s Committee, we will be able to achieve even greater success, while ensuring stability and sustainable development for the local community and the agricultural economy,” said Chang Bok Sang, chairman of CJ Vietnam.
Social projects
Ninh Thuan is one of the five localities directly benefiting from the UNESCO-sponsored project “Education for Ethnic Minority Girls”, funded by CJ Group. This project not only enhances knowledge but also directly supports access to education, vocational training, and job search for ethnic minority girls in the community.
Phase 1 of the project ran from February 2019 to April 2022 with a sponsorship of US$500,000, and Phase 2 continues with CJ Group’s sponsorship of US$250,000 from 2023 to 2025.
Min Hee-kyung, head of CJ Group’s CSR affairs, stated that following the success of Phase 1, in the coming time, based on the group’s philosophy of continuously striving to accompany and support the dreams of ethnic minority girls in Vietnam, the unit will organize various activities to bring education to more children and promote equality for these children.
In addition, CJ also has many other annual activities that receive enthusiastic participation and attention from CJ employees, such as the “Summer of Love” project held every summer. This year, CJ will proceed with repainting kindergartens and primary schools in economically disadvantaged areas of Vietnam. At the same time, support will be provided for providing learning tools, beds, fans, uniforms, backpacks, etc., for preschool and primary school children in this area.
Since 2013, the company has allocated VND600 million a year to award scholarships to students with difficult backgrounds in Lam Dong Province.
It has also allocated hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars each year to support activities in movies and gastronomy to locals. These include the CJ Vietnam-Korea short film project, supporting the dreams of young Vietnamese-Korean directors; the “Cinema for Everyone” program aimed at providing real cinema experiences to people in remote provinces across Vietnam; main sponsorship for Vietnamese Film Festivals, and Vietnam International Film Festivals. The Korean group has also established the CJ Baking Technical Training Center training about 100 baking specialists each year.
In addition, since 2012, CJ has sponsored VND8-10 billion annually for the Vietnam Taekwondo National Team, providing technical training and equipment support, as well as on-site training in South Korea.
Environmental protection
CJ Vietnam – which is operating in various fields including food and food services, biotechnology, logistics and retail, entertainment, and media – aims to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption in production and operations to help reduce negative impacts on the environment while saving operating costs.
For example, CJ Foods and CJ Bio plants in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province have taken measures to reduce carbon emissions by operating straw-based fuel instead of coal, while CJ Vina Agri plants in Binh Phuoc and Binh Duong have produced organic fertilizers from livestock waste to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Moreover, CJ aims to enhance the use of renewable resources such as solar, wind, and water to reduce dependence on pollution-causing energy sources. Currently, most CJ Group plants in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Binh Dinh, and Tien Giang have installed solar power systems.
Commitment to sustainable development
According to CJ Group, with these activities, the company wants to convey its commitment to sustainable development.
“CJ wants to emphasize that we are not only a profit-making enterprise but also an active member of the community, caring about the environment and society. This can help build trust and affection from the community, partners, and customers,” said Chairman Chang Bok Sang of CJ Vietnam.
According to the firm, CSR projects not only bring immediate benefits to the community but in the long run, these activities help increase brand reputation and recognition; build positive relationships with the community; and create social benefits and a sustainable environment.
As such, in the coming time, CJ Group will pursue many goals and outline specific plans for a series of sustainable development activities for the community, said the chairman.
