:: An exclusive interview of Mr Jong Hwan Kim, CEO Daewoo Pakistan Gauging the Pioneer: Daewoo Pakistan Motorway Service Limited ::

Kahkashan Farooq, Irfan Wahab & Javaid Shahraj

Daewoo Pakistan Motorway Service Limited (DPMSL) was established after signing an agreement with National Highway Authority (NHA) on September 10th, 1997. Since then the company's dedicated CEO in Pakistan Mr Jong Hwan Kim with his team is striving towards success with a vision of becoming the leading motorway service providing company in Pakistan by achieving commuter's satisfaction. Now Daewoo Pakistan covers the whole motorway (M-2) with each service area providing quality food, parking lots, fuel, CNG repairing, PCO and many other facilities 24 hours a day - 7 days of the week. DPMSL emerged as Trend Setter in providing services and facilitating commuters not only on M2, its reflection can be seen on GT roads as well. The Post team met the vibrant CEO of Daewoo Pakistan Mr Jong Hwan Kim to dig out innovations of the company on the Motorway journey front and its rapid success during the past few years

Interview starts from here: "Daewoo is a world-renowned group of companies, which keeps striving for global uplift. Year after year Daewoo has become a name of responsibility and trust. Daewoo has already laid down 6-lane Motorway between Lahore and Islamabad. Stretching over 339kms is not only prelude at Daewoo but is also one of the many landmarks in the world of transportation & communication, which any country can feel proud of". Said Mr Jong Hwan Kim while telling us about his company and its reach globally.

Mr Jong Hwan Kim also feels very proud while sharing the services which his company is providing during the journey on the Motorway. He said, "The journey of Motorway was not fully facilitated and there was need of modern as well as fully equipped Service Areas. Now Daewoo Pakistan Motorway Service is engaged to provide the Motorway Services on M2. These Service areas are unique in its design & facility mix and we are also trying our best to provide help for development of variety of further new businesses on MSAs. While operating these beautifully constructed MSAs the aim in our mind is to provide best possible services at a single place to the general public of Pakistan. Our services include Family restaurants, Public restaurant, CVS Shops, Filling stations, CNG stations etc. Also we take care of the commuters by providing supporting facilities like tyre shop, break down workshops, PCO, Internet, Mosque etc. The greatest achievement of our company is of establishing and maintaining the sense of security and safety for public during the whole journey which is a very rare trait otherwise. All this is to facilitate and to provide a comfortable journey to all our valuable commuters on M-2 in the best possible manner.

Talking about DAEWOO Mart, a future addition in Daewoo Services, he said, "The DAEWOO Mart is a step forward in this direction, the direction leads to commuters 100% satisfaction. DAEWOO MART is a role model convenient store where wide range of products will be available at competitive prices in pleasant environment. The service standard and customer handling, product quality and presentation will be excellent.

It is said that there's a philosophy behind every task, since DPMSL is the leading company in its multi tasking field, Mr Jong Hwan Kim while sharing the company's business philosophy, said, "There are four pillars of our business philosophy. First off, we believe in quality of service, secondly, our customers are on our top priority. Third, we believe in team work while achieving excellence is the forth pillar of our philosophy".

Mr Jong Hwan Kim feels proud by being the pioneer in establishing the first and only Motorway services company that represents an organizational environment that fosters professionalism, motivation and quality, an environment that is cost effective and quality conscious, a company with a mission of sustained growth in earnings and profitability. About the core values of the company, he explained at Daewoo Pakistan, "We believe in…

o Empowering our customers and adding value to their lives.

o Exceeding Customer satisfaction through quality services, products & positive behaviour.

o Enriching people's life and enhancing their relationships through our products and services.

o Our staff as the most valued resource and we believe in their self esteem.

o Continuous improvement in our work areas and daily lives.

o Solve the problems by thorough analysis.

These values guide our business strategies, our corporate behaviour and our relationships with our suppliers, customers, commuters and each other".

Every organization needs a platform from which it can inform stakeholders and the general public about it's' services, future plans, events and the achievements. DPMSL has launched a web site to facilitate the masses. "It gives me immense pleasure to announce that, continuing in our endeavours for the provision of maximum services to our valued commuters, we have launched our web site. The aim of this web site is to communicate with the general public on a regular basis, to get their feed back and suggestions which will certainly help us and guide us to improve our existing services because we plan to make it a symbol of success only with the cooperation and participation of all of you. On this web site we will regularly provide you all the information relating MSAs and the services offered there, the activities we plan to hold for the interests of the commuters and of course the improvement we will make in the light of your views and suggestions", Mr Jong Hwan Kim said. "Please keep in touch with our office and keep us informed with your ideas and suggestion as we alone cannot make it a yardstick for others and your participation in this regard will highly be appreciated", he added.

Talking about Pak/Korea ties, Mr Jong Hwan Kim maintained that DAEWOO group has developed the Lahore -Islamabad Motorway, this is not just the motorway, this is the symbol of Pak-Korean long lasting friendship; this is the source of economic & industrial development. "Daewoo Pakistan has thrived in the past and will do its efforts in future to strengthen Pak / Korea ties" he said.

What's in store for the future, Mr Jong Hwan Kim also explained the company's future plans. He said, "Generally the businesses are related to the commuters travelling on M-2 and obvious businesses are related to food that is restaurant, fast food & convenience Store. Available related businesses are workshop, tyre shops, filling stations, CNG stations. On motorway service areas all such businesses exists but there is still ample space for food businesses. The future businesses which we are suggesting are show rooms / display centers, play lands, gift shops plus newspaper stand, horticulture, live bakery, marts, business centers, net cafes and modern workshops equipped with latest facilities".

Talking about the opportunities that M2 offers both the local and foreign investors, he said, "Being Market Leader we always explore opportunities to improve the standard of public facilities on our MSA's. Diversified business set up opportunities are available like Franchised or joint venture, licensee or partnership, sole proprietorship or corporate set up concomitant with multifarious business segments like restaurants, convenient shops & specialty stores, motels & rest areas, fuel stations & vehicle maintenance and breakdown services. We have also planed to introduce some new facilities at MSAs like entertainment or recreational activities. In this regard recently a seminar was also conducted in Pearl Continental Hotel, Lahore to orientate the Business community about available opportunities", he further added. Mr. Jong Hwan Kim is a committed leader of his company as under his valiant leadership now the word DAEWOO has become the symbol of Quality of Product and Service; most popular in Pakistani market. It enjoys the strong brand loyalty among customers. "Our goal is "Commuters satisfaction" which can only be achieved by development of variety of business and public facilities at International standard and parameters, what we are doing the same", he said with a firm conviction in his eyes.

M2 offering diversified business set up opportunities to: Franchised or joint venture, licensee or partnership, sole proprietorship or corporate set up concomitant with multifarious business segments like restaurants, convenient shops & specialty stores, motels & rest areas, display centers, play lands, entertainment & amusement parks, gift shops plus newspaper stand, horticulture, live bakery, marts, business centers, net cafes, fuel stations and modern workshops for vehicle maintenance & breakdown services