National Security Office Hosts '2nd Defense Industry Export Strategy Evaluation Meeting'
Legal and Institutional Improvements Through Promotion of Korea-US Mutual Defense Procurement Agreement
Im Jong-deuk, the 2nd Deputy Director of the National Security Office, presided over the 'Defense Industry Export Strategy Evaluation Meeting' and urged active cooperation between the government and companies. He also set a policy to focus more on public-private cooperation, based on the judgment that sharing strategies between the government and companies is essential to maintain a sustainable defense industry export structure.
On the 20th, the government held the '2nd Defense Industry Export Strategy Evaluation Meeting' chaired by the National Security Office to review the defense industry export performance and export issues in the first half of the year. This meeting was the second occasion organized to discuss defense industry export strategies centered on the National Security Office. While the first meeting in April focused on sharing visions between the government and companies, this meeting discussed the first half's defense export performance and major issues for the next year.
Im Jong-deuk, the 2nd Deputy Director of the National Security Office, is presiding over the 2nd Defense Industry Export Strategy Evaluation Meeting on the 20th at the Korea Defense Industry Promotion Association conference room in Mapo-gu, Seoul. [Photo by Presidential Office]
First, to promote the 'Korea-US Reciprocal Defense Procurement Agreement (RDP-A),' the government plans to revise domestic laws and systems to effectively support the national interests and security alliance of both countries. Currently, the government is accelerating working-level discussions between the two governments following the Korea-US summit in April and plans to support the derivation of more advanced agreements in the second half of the year.
Considering the diversification of demand from purchasing countries interested in our weapon systems, the government intends to strengthen the foundation for cooperation among the military, government, and companies. The plan is to review country-specific export issues targeted for conclusion in the second half of the year, reflecting the military's operational experience with weapon systems, institutional support from the government, and corporate efforts, and to provide customized support starting with the most necessary areas. In particular, the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will jointly operate a newly established 'Regional Defense Industry Export Network Meeting' from July. This aims to discover potential export countries and promising defense export items and support the fulfillment of local export contracts.
Additionally, thorough preparations will be made for the Poland International Defense Industry Exhibition (MSPO) and Seoul ADEX scheduled for the second half of the year. The Poland MSPO, held in September, is the first overseas defense exhibition where Korea participates as a leading country and is known as one of the top three defense exhibitions in Europe. It is expected to showcase representative domestic weapon systems exported to Poland, such as the K-2 tank, K-9 self-propelled howitzer, and FA-50. Participation from excellent domestic defense companies such as Hyundai Rotem, Hanwha Systems, Hanwha Aerospace, Kia, KAI, LIGNEX1, Hunid, SNT, Poongsan, LS Mtron, and i3 Systems is also anticipated.
Deputy Director Im said, "To enable sustainable defense industry exports, national-level defense export goals and detailed strategies to achieve them must be well established," and urged, "Let us expand cooperation between the government and the private sector to restructure the defense industry centered on advanced technology and solidify the growth trend of defense exports."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
