While on a tour of Europe, Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do, visited Poland and launched a focused sales campaign for the maritime defense industry, following last year's efforts in the land and aviation defense sectors.
The Gyeongsangnam-do delegation, led by Governor Park, visited Remontowa Shiprepair Yard S.A., the largest private shipyard in Poland, on the afternoon of June 13, local time.
Governor Park stated, "Last year, I visited to promote cooperation in the land and aviation defense sectors, but this year, I have returned to provide solid support for the shipbuilding and maritime defense industries. Gdansk is the gateway to the Baltic Sea and a strategic hub, making it the optimal location to fully demonstrate the quality and industrial competitiveness of Gyeongnam's shipbuilding sector in the European market."
At the Remontowa Shipyard in Poland, Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do (from left), Park Seongu, Executive Director of Hanwha Ocean, Marcin Skwierawski, Deputy Prime Minister of Pomeranian Voivodeship, Bartlomiej Pomierski, Vice President of Remontowa Shipyard, and Dariusz Jaguszewski, CEO of Remontowa Shipyard, are joining hands. Provided by Gyeongnam Province
The Remontowa Shipyard, visited by the delegation, is one of the largest private shipyards in Europe and is recognized as a global company with unrivaled technological capabilities in the ship maintenance, repair, and operation (MRO) sector.
Governor Park, together with representatives from Hanwha Ocean, visited the shipyard to discuss ways to expand cooperation between Hanwha Ocean and Remontowa Shipyard in shipbuilding and defense, and to strengthen their strategic partnership for joint entry into the European market.
They also discussed the 'ORKA Project,' Poland's next-generation naval submarine acquisition program currently being promoted by the Polish government.
The Polish government plans to select a preferred bidder in the second half of this year for the acquisition of three submarines, a project valued at 8 trillion won.
The Gyeongnam delegation is visiting the Remontowa Shipyard in Poland to promote maritime defense sales. Photo by Gyeongnam Province
Hanwha Ocean, a company based in Gyeongsangnam-do, is competing with leading global defense companies to win this project.
There are high expectations that cooperation between Remontowa Shipyard and Hanwha Ocean will greatly help meet the ORKA Project's requirements for combat capabilities, technology transfer, follow-up support, and rapid delivery.
On this day, Hanwha Ocean emphasized that Remontowa, with its geographical advantages and outstanding management capabilities, is the optimal partner, and that cooperation can be expanded beyond defense to the commercial ship sector as well.
Remontowa proposed four key areas of cooperation: technology transfer for eco-friendly ships, joint development of medium-sized vessels, introduction of smart shipyard systems, and exchange of skilled personnel.
Piotr Chechowicz, Vice President of the Pomeranian Voivodeship Development Agency (from left), Marcin Skwierawski, Deputy Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do, and Cho Hyunjun, Director of the Economic and Trade Bureau of Gyeongsangnam-do, attended the "Gyeongnam-Pomeranian Voivodeship Shipbuilding and Defense Industry Business Exchange Meeting." Provided by Gyeongsangnam-do
That evening, the Gyeongsangnam-do delegation held the "Gyeongnam-Pomeranian Voivodeship Shipbuilding and Defense Industry Business Exchange Meeting."
This exchange meeting, aimed at establishing a foundation for expanding into the European shipbuilding and defense markets, was jointly organized by both regions as part of Gyeongsangnam-do's ongoing exchange activities with the Pomeranian Voivodeship, which have continued since the two regions became sister provinces in 1997.
The meeting was attended by Governor Park, An Byunggu, Mayor of Miryang, Choi Youngho, member of the provincial council, Park Jun, member of the provincial council, Park Minwon, President of Changwon National University, and Marcin Skwierawski, Deputy Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, as well as about 50 representatives from shipbuilding and defense companies from both regions. They shared updates on the industry and discussed practical ways to cooperate.
In particular, the Gyeongnam Shipbuilding and Marine Equipment Cooperative and the Polish Maritime Industry Association signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation in the shipbuilding and defense sectors.
Gyeongsangnam-do expects to expand exports to Poland for local companies based on the trust built over 30 years with the Pomeranian Voivodeship, and plans to provide administrative support for related companies' efforts to win contracts.
In this regard, the province has proposed an amendment to the Export-Import Bank Act, achieving an increase in the statutory capital from 15 trillion won to 25 trillion won, and is also requesting the government to improve the complicated export procedures.
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