PT Krakatau POSCO held a meeting with export firms on February 9. Attendees strengthened their relationships as partners and exchanged ideas on POSCO’s sales strategies and goals.

PT Krakatau POSCO recognized the three trading companies with the highest performance in 2016. These three companies included Samsung C&T Co., Hyosung (Europe), and ThyssenKrupp (Brazil). Samsung C&T Co. was recognized for achieving the highest number of sales (88,000 tons, which accounts for 17%), while Hyosung and ThyssenKrupp were recognized for pioneering new markets. Awards were handed out to Yong-soo Kim, a senior managing director at Samsung C&T, Wolfgang Schnittker, CEO of ThyssenKrupp, and representatives from Hyosung. “We want to thank PT Krakatau POSCO for holding this event and hope to continue building our partnership for continued success,” said a representative from Samsung C&T.

Executives from three trading companies accept prizes for recording strong sales or developing new markets in 2016. From left to right: Kyung-joon Min, head of PT Krakatau POSCO; Frederik Bremsteller, a senior manager at ThyssenKrupp; Yong-soo Kim, a managing director at Samsung C &T; Bon-seok Koo, a manager at Hyosung; and Si-young Choi, head of PT Krakatau POSCO Headquarters.

During the main portion of the event, participants discussed marketing strategies to expand the sales of World Premium Products (WPP), countermeasures for common issues, and sales strategies. In addition, with its eye on overcoming recently strengthened protectionist policies, PT Krakatau POSCO also discussed ways to improve its own brand management, which included a regional sales quota management plan with further emphasis on indicating the place of origin on its products. PT Krakatau POSCO is steadily ramping up sales by implementing strategies to promote high-end products (such as WPP).

Kyung-joon Min, head of PT Krakatau POSCO, delivers his opening speech before kicking off the event.

PT Krakatau POSCO is in its fourth year of operation since beginning its full-scale sales activities in 2014. The steel mill has sold 7.7 million tons of products, including a total of 2.3 million tons of steel plates in Southeast Asia. Its cumulative exports of steel plates amounted to 290,000 tons in 2014, 445,000 tons in 2015, and 510,000 tons in 2016 due to aggressive new customer acquisition and local market development activities. The company has also connected with 307 new buyers in 23 countries including Southeast Asia, Europe, and Brazil.

In the future, PT Krakatau POSCO plans to continue developing partnerships with trading companies and to make efforts to strengthen its position and competitiveness as Southeast Asia’s first integrated steel mill and as a leading steel plate maker for the region.

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Indonesia has a rich amount of tropical resources focusing on agricultural development. While the nation has had expanded trade surplus and has a rich amount of natural resources, Indonesia still has poor education systems where only one third of instructors have completed a college education. POSCO and its employees have made efforts to improve the education system in hopes to help build the future for Indonesian children.

Dreaming of joyous schools in Indonesia! About POSCO’s education improvement project

Krakatau POSCO has been funding education improvement projects led by ChildFund Korea. In partnership with ChildFund Indonesia,  POSCO has helped set up schools in villages near steelmills called Samangraya, Kubangsari and Tegalratu.

Pictured here: POSCO employees planting flowers with students in Indonesia

Overall, there were four programs included under the slogan “Sekolah Asik” which means “joyous schools”. The programs included: 1) Training program for educators, 2) Voluntary programs for students, 3) Education infrastructure improving program, and 4) Volunteer opportunities for employees of Krakatau POSCO.

[box] What is Krakatau POSCO? Krakatau POSCO was jointly established by POSCO and Indonesia’s state-run Krakatau Steel at a share ratio of 7 to 3, and boasts iron making, steelmaking, and steel plate production facilities. The company is capable of producing 1.8 million tons of slab and 1.2 million tons of steel plate annually. It is especially noteworthy as it is the first integrated steel mill that was established by POSCO in Southeast Asia. It was a new milestone in overseas steelworks construction as it involved various POSCO businesses in different fields including construction, power generation, and IT. POSCO is planning to operate steelworks in Indonesia to create a steel belt that connects China, Vietnam, Indonesia and India in order to target the entire Southeastern Asia region.[/box]

More about the education improvement programs in Indonesia!

Since last September, education environment improving activities have started in Krakatau POSCO that specifically target schools near the steel mill. Krakatau POSCO has participating in volunteer projects in efforts to support poor education conditions in Indonesia. Let’s explore the different types of work that POSCO employees have been involved in so far.

Improving qualification of instructors and increasing student participation!

Currently, less than one third of instructors have completed college education in Indonesia. Thus, improvement of the qualification of instructors is a major issue. To address this, Krakatau POSCO has created a training program for educators in order to improve their teaching capabilities. This program is in line to be expanded for total 6 schools and 120 students in 2014 by request of schools nearby.

Pictured here: A student in Indonesia holds up a picture that portrays the type of school she dreams of

Pictured here: Krakatau POSCO’s director, Kyung Joon Min, participates on one of the volunteer days in Indonesia

Pictured here: POSCO volunteers and children participating in an athletic competition

In addition, volunteer programs for students were created in order to give students a chance to trade positions and actually take part in education improvement projects. To raise awareness among students, students were asked to provide suggestions for areas to improve. Through discussion, students got involved in deciding and ultimately participating in volunteer work.

Improvements to education infrastructure and volunteering

Conditions at schools near Cilegon which is where the steel mill is located are very poor. In fact some schools do not have any desks so students participate in classes from the floor. There are no washroom facilities at school so students must go to nearby homes. Schools that are funded by the government are relatively better, but privately funded schools are in dire conditions.

Pictured here: Krakatau POSCO employee teaching children how to wash their hands

Krakatau POSCO is addressing these harsh school infrastructure conditions by providing desks, school materials and even building bathrooms, libraries and other education infrastructure. Going forward, employees at Krakatau POSCO plan to participate in volunteer programs at these schools.

Pictured here: Making improvements to the education infrastructure in Indonesia

Surprising changes made through improving the education environment

Three schools in the area of Cilegon are now witnessing many positive changes due to education improvement projects led by Krakatau POSCO. As instructors have learned various teaching methods and new skills, the 1,071 students at the three schools are now much happier and participate more in class as well!

Here is a short video highlighting the positive influence that Krakatau POSCO has had on the education system in Indonesia.

Below are feedback from those impacted by the education improvement projects in Indonesia.

Pictured here: POSCO employees with students

Webi Andriansah (Employee in the Environment & Energy department at Krakatau POSCO): Students made me feel like I was a big brother to them. Also they asked many questions about my job, experiences of school, family etc. I felt many emotions when I shook hands with student after the class. This activity was not only a new experience to students but it also affected my life values and mind!

Ana Siva Urrohmah (6th grade student): I’m a student of SDN Samangraya Ⅱ. I’m so happy and thankful for the classroom that my friends and I can use. I’m curious about how the new classrooms will incorporate our opinions and I am sure it will make our educational experience more joyful. In addition, now that we have sports equipment, we can now participate in events that we previously could not join in.

Waldatun TH (Teacher at SDN Tegal Kidondong ): The training program I participated in was a great opportunity to share opinions and ask questions freely. The program supporters answered questions so actively even during lunchtime or afternoon breaks. I got confidence by being able to actually apply methods that I learned through this program in the classroom!

We hope you enjoyed our blog post about the efforts that Krakatau POSCO is making in Indonesia to improve the education experience for students! POSCO is building a better, brighter future for the younger generation!