Kim Young-kee (right), Executive Vice President of LG Electronics, 
and Dr. John Clemens, Director-General of the IVI, hold up a donation 
plaque together during the signing ceremony on their cooperation.

LG Electronics, a leading multinational electronics manufacturer based in Korea, has joined hands with the IVI to improve global public welfare. In addition to the IVI’s ‘New Vaccines to Save the World’s Children’ campaign for this year, LGE and the IVI agreed to work together to conduct and oversee education courses. LGE and the IVI held a ceremony to sign an agreement on their cooperation at the IVI headquarters on January 8, 2008. Kim Young-kee, Executive Vice President at LGE, and Dr. John D. Clemens, IVI Director- General, attended the ceremony.

At this ceremony LGE donated 400 million won (about US$420,000) to the IVI to support the IVI’s efforts in reducing deaths and illness from infectious diseases among the world’s children.

The two organizations hope to work together to eliminate poverty and reduce child mortality through the development and introduction of needed vaccines. Additionally, they will run joint education programs, including a leadership course for high school students, aimed at nurturing the next generation of global scientists who will contribute to the development of civil society.

LGE Vice President Kim said, “In order to live up to LG Electronics’ status as a global enterprise and to become a responsible corporate citizen, we will further expand our contribution to global social welfare.” LGE is a leading maker of consumer electronics, home appliances, and mobile communications, employing more than 82,000 people in over 110 facilities, including around 80 subsidiaries worldwide.

Dr. Clemens said, “We are very privileged to have LG Electronics on board in our humanitarian efforts. I am confident that LGE’s important contribution will serve as a catalyst for advancing humanity and science.” (Inquiries: jsohn@ivi.int)