OREANDA-NEWS. January 11, 2013. POSCO opened up the new year of 2013 pledging to secure a higher level of competitiveness through value management and innovation management, reported the press-centre of POSCO. 

On January 2nd, the first working day of this year, POSCO held the POSCO Family year opening ceremony at the Pohang headquarters main auditorium, and shared the 2013 POSCO Family management goals.

Approximately 300 people, including employees of POSCO, investing companies and external partners attended the ceremony which was carried out simultaneously with the Gwangyang Innovation Center connected via video. Particularly, this year, overseas subsidiaries including China`s Zhangjiagang Pohang Stainless Steel and Indonesia`s Krakatau POSCO were connected as well to deliver New Year`s greetings from abroad. The opening ceremony was also broadcast live via TV and PCs in the office.

The opening ceremony, which was hosted by new hires Geunseok Yoo of POSCO Energy and Inhye Chung of POSCO, started with New Year`s greetings and encouragement messages from employees in China and Indonesia, followed by a silent prayer for those who passed away in the line of duty.

In the New Year`s speech that followed, CEO Chung Joonyang emphasized that amidst the world`s economic stagnation and difficult steel market conditions, the company needs to focus on client success rather that cost competition, and secure market leadership and profitability in `value competition` and overcome the crisis through a higher level of `innovation management.`

Also, to overcome the double crisis of oversupply and slowdown in demand, the company must capture the hearts of customers and develop unique products that can raise customer value.

CEO Chung also said, ``We cannot achieve the `100 year POSCO` vision with defensive and passive crisis management. We must focus on risk management by maintaining organic relations with overseas subsidiaries.`` CEO Chung continued and requested that all employees propose ways to solve issues and take responsibility, and always have a mind of gratitude and gather all minds with the `heart of an owner` and through this become a POSCO Family that `creates answers.`

At the celebratory performance, the `POSCO Family Joint Choir` opened up the new year with `You Raise Me Up` and `My Country My Brothers.`

Meanwhile, prior to the ceremony, CEO Chung Joonyang visited the Pohang Steelworks FINEX Factory 3 and Continuous Casting Plant 4, encouraging employees to do their best in their locations.