Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is talking with K. Beckmann, CEO of Germany's Merck Group, on the 16th (local time).
Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon, attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, met with Kai Beckmann, CEO of the global science and technology company Merck Group from Germany, to request investment in the electronic materials sector in Gyeonggi Province. He also held successive meetings with political leaders from Singapore, China, and India to discuss cooperation plans.
On the 16th (local time), Governor Kim met with Merck Group CEO Kai Beckmann at the Davos Congress Center in Switzerland and said, "We appreciate Merck's long-term investment, and we will fully support you whenever difficulties arise." He added, "The electronic materials supplied by Merck are essential materials in Gyeonggi Province's strategic industries, so we ask for continued investment in research and development and expansion of manufacturing facilities."
In response, CEO Kai Beckmann said, "Merck invested in Gyeonggi Province with a vision," citing reasons for long-term investment such as abundant excellent human resources, absence of unnecessary administrative regulations and bureaucracy, and geographical advantages for international trade, including exports to China.
He added, "We have great interest in Gyeonggi Province and are positively considering additional investments. I would like to invite Governor Kim Dong-yeon to our European headquarters."
Merck, headquartered in Germany, is the longest-standing science and technology company with a 356-year history. Since completing a research center and factory in the Pyeongtaek Poseung National Industrial Complex in 2002, it has expanded OLED material research centers and semiconductor manufacturing equipment facilities in Pyeongtaek and Ansan. Merck's investment in the province amounts to 270 billion KRW, employing 1,700 people.
On the same day, Governor Kim also met consecutively with representatives from central and local governments in Asia, including the President of Singapore, ministers, the Governor of Liaoning Province in China, and the Chief Minister of Maharashtra State in India.
Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is talking with Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of Singapore (left), on the 16th (local time).
Governor Kim first met with Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of Singapore, and Josephine Teo, Minister of Communications and Information, saying, "Pangyo in Gyeonggi Province represents Korea in future growth industries," and officially invited both to Gyeonggi Province, expressing a desire for cooperation between Singapore and Gyeonggi. He also explained Gyeonggi's youth ladder policy and expressed his wish to send Gyeonggi youth to Singaporean universities.
In response, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said, "The youth ladder policy is a good policy. I will convey this to the Ministry of Education when I return to Singapore," and requested a visit from Governor Kim to Singapore. Minister Josephine Teo also responded, "Korea's high-tech and national data strategies are of a high standard," expressing hope for further cooperation with Gyeonggi Province.
Governor Kim then met with Li Lecheng, Governor of Liaoning Province, China, engaging in a consistently warm and friendly dialogue.
This was their second meeting.
Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon (right) is taking a commemorative photo with Li Lecheng, Governor of Liaoning Province, China, on the 16th (local time).
Governor Kim officially visited Liaoning Province, China, in October last year, holding a ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of the sisterhood between Gyeonggi Province and Liaoning Province, and announced the ‘30th Anniversary Joint Declaration’ pledging comprehensive cooperation in economic, tourism, cultural, and human exchange fields.
Governor Li Lecheng said, "The theme of this Davos Forum is trust recovery, and I am glad to meet the most trustworthy friend," adding, "I was moved by the cooperation plans between the two regions that Governor Kim mentioned during last year's visit. Secretary Hao Feng will visit Gyeonggi Province within this year."
Governor Kim had requested Secretary Hao Feng's visit to Gyeonggi Province during his visit to Liaoning Province.
Governor Kim also met with Eknath Sambhaji Shinde, Chief Minister of Maharashtra State, India, to discuss ways to strengthen friendly cooperation between the two regions.
Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon (left) warmly shakes hands with Eknath Sambhaji Shinde, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, India, on the 16th (local time).
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, "Maharashtra is the state in India that receives the most foreign direct investment, and we hope that Korean companies, which have excellent human resources and infrastructure, will invest more. We are providing many incentives to attract semiconductor companies, and since world-class semiconductor companies like Samsung and SK Hynix are located in Gyeonggi Province, we ask Gyeonggi to help become good partners with them."
Governor Kim said, "Maharashtra and Gyeonggi Province have maintained a 17-year friendship and good relations with India," adding, "Congratulations on the business agreement with Hyundai Motor. Gyeonggi Province has many large companies such as Hyundai Motor, Samsung, and SK. I believe it is desirable for our companies to actively invest in emerging countries like India."
Governor Kim proposed a visit by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to Gyeonggi Province on the same day.
Maharashtra is a state located in western India, with Mumbai as its capital. Gyeonggi Province began its relationship by opening the Gyeonggi Business Center Mumbai branch in January 2005 and established a friendly cooperative relationship with Maharashtra in 2007. Since then, exchanges have continued, including visits by Gyeonggi Province working groups (2009?2019) and a visit by the Maharashtra Minister of Industry and Mining to Gyeonggi Province (2016).
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