Investment Agreements Signed with Umicore and Air Liquide...
Foreign Investment Nears $4 Billion Milestone
Chungcheong Universiade 2027 Flag Received...
Urban Regeneration and Startup Models Also Reviewed
Governor Kim Taeheum of Chungnam secured 60 million dollars in foreign investment during his business trip to Europe. / Chungnam Provincial Office
Kim Tae-heum, Governor of Chungnam Province, has successfully attracted $60 million in foreign investment during his business trip to Europe. As a result, the cumulative foreign investment attracted during the 8th popularly elected administration has reached $3.9762 billion, putting the province on the verge of surpassing the $4 billion mark.
According to Chungnam Province on July 29, Governor Kim visited Paris, France; Frankfurt, Germany; and Amsterdam, the Netherlands from July 24 to 28. During his trip, he signed investment agreements with global companies, received the flag for the Chungcheong Universiade, and explored exemplary cases of urban regeneration.
Governor Kim signed investment agreements with Umicore and Air Liquide.
The two companies plan to invest a total of $60 million to expand production facilities in the Cheonan industrial complex. Through this, the province has achieved its highest-ever foreign investment attraction performance during the 8th popularly elected administration.
Governor Kim met consecutively with the Senior Vice President of Umicore, the CEO of Air Liquide, and the representative of Air Liquide Korea, sharing visions for future industries and expanding the foundation for cooperation.
In Frankfurt, Germany, he also met with the CEO of the global automotive electronics company Fretl Group, where he shared the results of collaboration with Chungnam-based startup GNT and discussed the possibility of additional investment.
In addition, he simultaneously reviewed strategies for revitalizing the startup ecosystem and urban regeneration.
Governor Kim visited Station F, the world's largest startup campus in Paris, France, and toured the site, which houses more than 1,000 startups, to explore ways to integrate such initiatives into provincial policies.
He also examined successful urban regeneration cases, including Duisburg Environmental Park in Germany and NDSM Werf in the Netherlands.
All of these sites have been transformed from former train stations, steel mills, or shipyards into spaces that blend culture and industry. Governor Kim stated, "I have found clues to incorporate into Chungnam's old downtown regeneration policies."
Additionally, on July 27, Governor Kim received the flag for the 2027 Chungcheong Universiade at the closing ceremony of the 2025 Rhine-Ruhr Summer Universiade.
Governor Kim declared, "We will prepare perfectly for the event, which will be attended by more than 15,000 participants from 150 countries," expressing his commitment to successfully hosting the Games.
A provincial official stated, "We have achieved meaningful results, including securing international trust, expanding the global network, preparing strategies for future industries and urban regeneration, and commencing preparations for the Chungcheong Universiade. Based on the outcomes of this trip, we will accelerate follow-up investment attraction and policy implementation."
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