The 'Europe Gyeongsangnam-do Paris Office,' which will serve as a bridgehead for expanding the entry of Gyeongsangnam-do's key industries into the European market, has officially opened.
The Gyeongsangnam-do delegation, led by Governor Park Wansu, held the opening ceremony for the Paris office at 10 a.m. local time in France on June 19.
Key figures attended the ceremony, including Choi Youngho and Park Jun, members of the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Council; Kim Byungjun, Consul General at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in France; and Kim Jungho, President of the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
At the opening ceremony of the Europe Gyeongsangnam-do Paris Office, Governor Park Wansu of Gyeongnam Province (center) and attendees are taking a commemorative photo. Provided by Gyeongnam Province
Governor Park emphasized, "Europe is home to many companies with advanced technology and capital, so we expect increased investment in local companies and expanded industry-academia-research collaboration. The Paris office will serve as a new bridge connecting Gyeongsangnam-do and Europe, playing a pivotal role in generating tangible results in investment, trade, culture, and tourism."
Consul General Kim stated, "The opening of the Gyeongsangnam-do Paris Office is a very timely move as Korea strengthens its push into high value-added industries such as aerospace and defense in Europe. Going forward, the French Embassy and the Gyeongsangnam-do Paris Office will work together as one team to cooperate in trade and technology exchange, and the French Embassy will also actively provide support."
The Paris office will be responsible for: establishing cooperative networks with major companies and related organizations in Europe; supporting trade expansion through participation in international exhibitions and dispatch of trade missions; facilitating industry-academia-research exchanges and cooperation in technology and workforce development with advanced regions; supporting Gyeongsangnam-do companies' entry into the European market; and promoting Gyeongsangnam-do's traditional culture and tourism resources to major European cities.
Gyeongsangnam-do plans to strengthen sales activities targeting the European market, centering on the Paris office.
In addition, through the Paris office, the province intends to accelerate the entry of its key industries?such as aerospace, defense, and nuclear power?into the European market. The province also plans to promote international exchanges in various fields, including attracting customized investment by country, expanding trade and commerce, attracting tourists, and cooperation in workforce development.
With the opening of the Paris office, Gyeongsangnam-do now operates a total of seven overseas offices, following those in the United States, China (two offices), Japan, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
Gyeongsangnam-do is the first metropolitan local government in Korea to establish an overseas office in Paris, France.
Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do (second from the left), is clapping while looking at the nameplate of the 'Gyeongsangnam-do Europe Paris Office' at the opening ceremony. Provided by Gyeongsangnam-do
Gyeongsangnam-do explained that Europe, as the world's third-largest economic bloc after the United States and China, has close ties with the province's aerospace, defense, and nuclear power industries, making its strategic importance even greater.
In particular, France is considered the center of the European aerospace industry, as it is home to the headquarters of Airbus and the European Space Agency (ESA). The province expects France to play a key role as a base for the European expansion of Gyeongsangnam-do's key industries.
Following the opening ceremony of the Paris office, the Gyeongsangnam-do delegation will hold the 'Gyeongsangnam-do Investment Promotion Seminar' at the InterContinental Hotel in Paris at 11 a.m. on the same day.
This seminar is designed to introduce the investment environment for Gyeongsangnam-do's strategic industries such as aerospace and to identify promising investment companies. About 100 representatives from local French companies are expected to attend.
Through this event, the delegation aims to expand strategic industry cooperation with global companies and seek growth opportunities for Gyeongsangnam-do companies in Europe.
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