[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] President Moon Jae-in attended the 'Korea-UAE Hydrogen Cooperation Business Roundtable' held on the morning of the 16th (local time) as the first event of his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), aimed at establishing a hydrogen cooperation foundation between the two countries.
In his opening remarks, President Moon mentioned that Korea and the UAE will expand cooperation into the hydrogen sector, a core energy source in the carbon-neutral era, emphasizing that both countries share a common goal and will to create future growth opportunities by transitioning to eco-friendly energy.
President Moon stated, "The hydrogen industry is the key to carbon neutrality," adding, "Carbon neutrality is certainly not an easy process, but if the two countries grow the hydrogen industry through solidarity and cooperation, new opportunities will arise amid challenges."
He noted that the UAE is strengthening its green and blue hydrogen production capabilities through the Abu Dhabi Hydrogen Alliance, while Korea has established the world's first Hydrogen Act and formulated a basic plan for the hydrogen economy to strengthen the hydrogen economy ecosystem. He forecasted, "If the UAE, which has strengths in producing green and blue hydrogen, cooperates with Korea, which has strengths in hydrogen utilization, storage, and distribution, the two countries will lead the hydrogen economy."
This event was held with hydrogen as the core theme of cooperation between the two countries, considering that the UAE is proactively promoting the transition to a hydrogen economy and is the first practical partner from whom Korean companies have contracted to import hydrogen overseas.
Korea has high competitiveness in hydrogen utilization aspects such as hydrogen vehicles, hydrogen charging stations, and fuel cell distribution, creating significant synergy between the two countries. The UAE is the first country to produce results from the global clean hydrogen import project, a core project under the Korean government's 'Hydrogen Leading Nation Vision' announced last year.
Meanwhile, on the Korean side, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Korea International Trade Association, the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation, the Export-Import Bank, relevant ministries and agencies related to the Hydrogen Convergence Alliance, and companies across the entire hydrogen economy cycle participated. On the UAE side, key figures attended, including Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Abdullah Saif Al Nuaimi, Ambassador of the UAE Embassy in Korea; Abdullah Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the UAE Federal Chamber of Commerce; CEO of Emirates Steel; Chairman of Bin Harmal Group; and Chairman of Dasing International Group.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology agreed to continuously communicate based on the discussions at the meeting and to concretize the discussed cooperation measures. In his closing remarks, President Moon emphasized, "The Korean government will review the various opinions raised today and will spare no effort to further promote and support hydrogen cooperation between the two countries."
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