Seoul British Embassy, Development and Mutual Cooperation
Request for Support in Hosting the 2030 Busan World Expo
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] On the 8th at 2:30 PM, Busan City signed a business agreement at the British Embassy in Seoul and will engage in mutual cooperation for the development of common interest areas between the two institutions.
At the signing ceremony, Busan Mayor Park Hyung-jun, British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks, and John Whittingdale, the UK’s Trade Envoy for Korea, are scheduled to sign the business agreement.
Once this business agreement is signed, the two institutions will mutually cooperate for the development of common interest areas including ▲climate change, environment, carbon neutrality ▲logistics, green shipping ▲smart and future city technologies ▲trade and investment ▲science, technology, and innovation.
In particular, Busan City plans to actively discuss with the British Embassy the promotion of the Busan-Liverpool metropolitan area innovation twins project, enhancement of trade and investment relations between Busan and the UK, and support for hosting the 2030 Busan World Expo. It also plans to activate partnerships with cities in the UK and expand human exchanges in cooperation fields.
Mayor Park Hyung-jun said, “With the enactment of the Korea-UK FTA, trade volume between Busan and the UK has greatly increased, and many global UK companies are investing in various fields in Busan. Our city is also doing its best to create an investment environment for foreign companies, such as establishing the Royal Russell School Busan Campus. Therefore, we expect this agreement to greatly help UK global companies actively invest in Busan.”
John Whittingdale, UK Trade Envoy for Korea, said, “I am very pleased to have made meaningful progress based on the promise to strengthen the partnership between the UK and Busan during my meeting with Mayor Park Hyung-jun last August. Through this business agreement, I hope the UK and Busan City can innovate and cooperate together toward a stronger and more sustainable future.”
Colin Crooks, British Ambassador to Korea, said, “As a maritime nation, the UK has many similarities with the maritime city of Busan, so there will be many areas for mutual cooperation. Going forward, I look forward to cooperation with Busan not only in maritime fields but also in smart cities, carbon neutrality, and climate change.”
Mayor Park, upon signing this agreement, introduced Busan’s major current projects such as renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and Eco Delta Smart City to the attendees, and especially requested their interest and support for hosting the 2030 Busan World Expo.
Regarding the bid for the 2030 World Expo in Busan, Mayor Park Hyung-jun said, “We will put all administrative efforts into the final selection of the host city by the end of this year and make a full sprint until the very end. If the 2030 World Expo bid in Busan succeeds, exchanges and cooperation between Busan and cities in the UK will also expand further, and it is expected to have an even more positive impact on friendly cooperation between the two countries.”
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