GS Group chairman Huh Chang-soo recently stressed executives’ dedication to growth and innovation as key to its ambition to become a leading global firm.

Despite the good results the group has been achieving over the past few years in an unfavorable local business environment, Huh said the group should not be satisfied with its performance.

“Based on the performance we have been showing domestically, I believe we can also become a leading global company. Your pride of being a GS executive as well as responsibility for the group’s future growth is crucial to accomplish this end,” he told executives during a training session on Jeju Island on Friday.

The chairman’s remarks are in line with his new year’s speech given earlier this month, group officials said.

Huh has addressed the need for the group to step up its efforts to look for new growth engine businesses through which it can hold an original competitiveness and become a “key global player” in the industry. The chairman has continually been emphasizing the significance of novel businesses and specializing.

Huh also called for more active cooperation among its subsidiaries.

“Though it’s not easy, communication and collaboration among affiliates is crucial for the group to take a holistic approach to its business and create a bigger synergy effect,” he said. The chairman added that the group will do its best to reward executives’ achievements.

GS Group has held regular training programs for its newly appointed executives to nurture managers who can maximize its business outcomes and accomplish its vision since 2005, when it separated from LG Group.

The programs cover diverse topics from managing outcomes and decision-making and communication, to dialogue with more experienced executives, the group said.

The energy and retail giant set its investment goal at 2.2 trillion won ($1.8 billion), while aiming at sales of 55 trillion won this year.

By Koh Young-aah (youngaah@heraldcorp.com)