53% of Essential Port Construction Ordered in the First Quarter

Progress in the early ordering of port construction in 2000 resulted i
n increases in employment. According to the Ministry of Maritime Affai
rs and Fisheries (MOMAF), 47 construction orders, amounting to 418 bil
lion won of the total 785 billion won worth of 80 essential port const
ruction orders were completed in the first quarter. The rest of the
m are expected to be ordered in the second quarter of this year, which
will expand the number of employees to 4,700,000 persons and activate
the economy in local markets. One reason for this phenomenon is that
MOMAF shortened ordering periods from 30 days last year to 15 days thi
s year.