Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam, "The Shipbuilding Industry Will Become the World's Strongest"

2022 Smart Green Energy Shipbuilding and Marine Industry Exhibition Opens

Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, is delivering a greeting at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Smart Green Energy Shipbuilding and Marine Industry Exhibition.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The 2022 Smart Green Energy Shipbuilding and Marine Industry Exhibition was held on the afternoon of the 5th at the Changwon Convention Center (CECO) in Gyeongnam.

Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, who attended the opening ceremony, said, “We will establish an organic cooperation system so that our province can stand tall as the world's strongest shipbuilding industry, and secure competitiveness in pioneering new markets, supporting exports, and developing technology for a new leap forward in shipbuilding.”

According to Gyeongnam Province, this shipbuilding and marine industry exhibition is held for three days until the 7th under the theme of “Eco-friendly Energy and Smart Ships.”

▲ An exhibition with 310 booths participated by 136 companies from 14 countries ▲ Technology exchange and purchase consultations between shipyards and equipment suppliers ▲ Panel discussions with senior officials from the domestic shipbuilding industry ▲ Export consultations ▲ Conferences, etc., are held simultaneously.

The exhibition was attended by Governor Park, Ahn Kyung-won, 1st Deputy Mayor of Changwon Special City, Choi Hak-beom, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Council, Cheon Young-gi, Mayor of Tongyeong, Kim Seok-ki, Deputy Mayor of Gimhae, Park Jong-woo, Mayor of Geoje, Jo Geun-je, County Governor of Haman, and Lee Sang-geun, County Governor of Goseong.

Representatives from companies and associations, including the CEO of K Ship and the Vice President of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, were also present.

Gyeongnam Province plans to provide attractions through equipment related to eco-friendly shipbuilding vessels, LNG-powered ships and bunkering, offshore wind power generation, smart and autonomous ships, as the industry paradigm shifts due to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) environmental regulations, digitalization, and productivity innovation.

Through the Smart Green Energy Shipbuilding and Marine Conference, future technological changes and market prospects of low- and zero-carbon fuel-powered ships will also be shared.

At the 2022 Smart Green Energy Shipbuilding and Marine Industry Exhibition, representatives from 15 organizations and companies signed a business agreement to realize the training of production technology personnel and the expansion of employment.

At the exhibition, Gyeongnam Province and Changwon City, Tongyeong City, Gimhae City, Geoje City, Goseong County, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, Samsung Heavy Industries, K Ship, HSG Sungdong Shipbuilding, Samkang M&T, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering and Samsung Heavy Industries in-house partner companies council, Small and Medium Shipbuilding Research Institute, National Quality Masters Association, and a total of 15 institutions and company representatives signed a business agreement to foster production technology personnel and expand employment.

Through the agreement, local governments will support budgets of 7.9 billion KRW for national projects to train 1,000 people annually and support employment for 800 people annually, and 3.9 billion KRW for provincial projects to train 500 people annually and support employment for 400 people annually.

Shipbuilders and partner companies will provide training for 1,000 people annually, direct hiring, expansion of foreign employment, and retention of current employees; the National Quality Masters Association will expand master education programs to transfer production technology know-how; and the Small and Medium Shipbuilding Research Institute will increase shipbuilding production technology personnel training to 1,500 people annually.

An official from the province said, “About 8,600 production personnel in the shipbuilding industry in the province will be lacking next year,” adding, “We plan to focus on fostering personnel and expanding employment through mutual linkage and cooperation between industries and local governments to supply them timely to the industrial sites and ensure no disruption in securing production capacity.”