[By NBC-1TV E. H Kim]GM Korea today has honored its best 89 automotive suppliers in Korea for delivering superior quality at the first annual Quality Excellence Awards ceremony in Phuket, Thailand.

The event, held at Hilton Arcadia Resort combined with the Supplier Business Meeting, marks the first time that the global automaker has recognized its Korean suppliers at a special awards ceremony solely for achieving and maintaining the highest quality standards.

“We are proud of recognizing 89 Korean suppliers, the 2nd largest number for any country in global GM, after USA.” GM International Operations Vice President of Global Purchasing and Supply Chain(GPSC) Johnny Saldanha said, “Korean suppliers have been a key factor in Chevrolet’s record global sales and GM Korea’s outstanding achievements.”

GM intends to make the Quality Excellence Awards ceremony an annual event among other initiatives to strengthen ties and deepen its collaboration with suppliers world-wide.

GM Korea President Sergio Rocha said the awards highlight the key role that Korean manufacturers are playing in the company’s success and the company look forward to strengthening the partnership to take advantage of growing global demand.

During today’s event, Saldanha and GM Korea executives presented awards to the automaker’s best suppliers. They also discussed plans for expanding the opportunity for domestic suppliers to serve GM’s global operations.

Rocha reserved special praise, for the 89 Quality Excellence Award winners, who attained the highest quality scores possible. “Winning the award for quality excellence is an incredible accomplishment, which demonstrates discipline to execute at the highest levels. GM Korea places its top priority on maintaining our competitiveness for sustainable growth with Korean suppliers.”