Accompaniment of Economic Figures, Focus on Practical Cooperation
Park Hyung-jun, Mayor of Busan, who is touring Africa as a special presidential envoy, has laid a practical economic cooperation foundation with Namibia.
Mayor Park visited Namibia for two days from the 11th to the 12th (local time).
Namibia, located in Southern Africa, is evaluated to have optimal conditions for developing eco-friendly industries such as hydrogen energy due to its various mineral resources and abundant solar and wind power resources. The development of eco-friendly industries is being promoted as a top national development strategy.
During this visit, officials from Busan City, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, energy companies based in Busan including Geumyang Co., Ltd. and Busan Green Energy Co., Ltd., as well as representatives from the Korea Energy Agency, accompanied Special Envoy Park.
Special Envoy Park reportedly discussed ways to enhance practical cooperation between the two countries in eco-friendly industries, advanced industries, culture and tourism, and human resource development and exchange during this visit.
He also invited Hage Gottfried Geingob, President of Namibia, to the ‘Korea-Africa Summit’ to be held in Korea in 2024.
Special Envoy Park introduced to President Geingob that President Yoon Suk-yeol declared the Korean government’s policy direction and strategy to focus on future-oriented cooperation with Africa at the ‘Korea-Africa Night’ event held in Korea on November 23 last year. At this occasion, he delivered a presidential letter emphasizing the development of future-oriented relations with Namibia.
Special Envoy to the President Park Hyung-jun is presenting a souvenir to Namibian President Hage Geingob on the 12th.
Special Envoy Park conveyed that Korea is promoting the hosting of the 2024 Korea-Africa Summit and requested President Geingob to attend the event.
He also explained the achievements and current status of the friendly cooperative relationship between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1990, and discussed ways to enhance practical cooperation in various fields such as eco-friendly industries including hydrogen energy, advanced industries like information and communication technology, mineral resource development, culture and tourism, and human resource development and exchange.
President Geingob mentioned that he visited Korea in 2002 and watched a World Cup match held in Busan. He said he has very good memories of Busan, Republic of Korea, and hopes that more Korean companies will actively cooperate with Namibian companies in fields such as hydrogen and lithium development.
The Namibian side expressed that Korea, as a model developing country, possesses world-class economic power and industrial technology, and Namibia wishes to learn from Korea’s remarkable growth experience.
Namibia mentioned that it has established a special committee for the development of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and is reviewing plans such as e-government development, hoping for practical cooperation in various fields.
Special Envoy Park also attended the Korea-Namibia business consultation meeting held at the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) at 9 a.m. local time on the 12th.
At this event, while interacting with businesspeople from both countries, he emphasized cooperation between Korean and Namibian private companies in various fields such as green hydrogen and mineral resource development, urging close cooperation and the creation of tangible results.
The event was attended by Chairman Ryu Kwang-ji of Geumyang Co., Ltd., CEO Yeom Dong-seop of Busan Green Energy Co., Ltd., representatives from Hyosung, a local subsidiary, and Lee Young-hwal, Executive Vice President of the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, enhancing practical cooperation effects.
Additionally, three domestic energy and electrical companies?SDN, Jitaps, and Samhwa?participated online and held consultations with Namibian government ministries, state-owned enterprises, and private company officials.
Chairman Ryu, CEO Yeom, and representatives from the Korea Energy Agency discussed with senior officials from Namibia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy ways to discover and promote specific cooperative projects in mineral development and renewable energy sectors beyond this consultation meeting.
The Namibian side actively expressed hope for Korean companies’ participation and showed expectations that the business consultation meeting would serve as a foundation for promoting renewable energy projects in the private sector.
Special Envoy Park Hyung-jun said, “Following the visit to Tunisia, this visit to Namibia has further established a ‘bridgehead’ for the Republic of Korea to develop strategic and practical cooperative relations with Africa.”
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