Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Minister for Trade, Industry and Energy Dukgeun Ahn of the Republic of Korea visited the state of Georgia and Washington, D.C. on January 6 to January 9. During his visit, he held meetings with the U.S. Secretary of Energy, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the Governor of Georgia, state legislators, federal senators and representatives, leading think tanks, and other stakeholders. Additionally, Minister Ahn participated in a roundtable discussion with Korean companies operating in Georgia.

During his meetings with members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance and House Committee on Ways and Means, which oversee trade and taxation matters, Minister Ahn emphasized the strengthened supply chain connections between the two countries, driven by investments made by Korean companies in the United States. He urged U.S. legislators to continue fostering a favorable environment for Korean companies.

In a separate meeting with Senator Todd Young, co-sponsor of the "SHIPS for America Act," a bill aimed at strengthening the U.S. shipbuilding industry, Minister Ahn discussed the ongoing collaboration in formulating policies and legislation to revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding sector. Furthermore, in discussions with legislators representing states such as Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama—key hubs for Korean investment in the U.S.—he sought active support and attention to ensure the smooth and stable implementation of Korean investment projects in these regions.

Minister Ahn also held bilateral meetings with U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and USTR Ambassador Katherine Tai, respectively. In these meetings, he reviewed the achievements derived from the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two governments and highlighted the need for continued collaboration in the industrial, energy, and trade sectors under the new U.S. administration.

Minister Ahn stated, "This visit provided an opportunity to actively highlight the activities of Korean investors to U.S. federal and state governments as well as legislators, while reaffirming the strength of the Korea-U.S. relationship, regardless of the evolving political landscape in both countries." He added, "We will closely monitor the policies introduced by the new U.S. administration and continue to strengthen U.S.-Korea cooperation to ensure that Korean investments and business operations in the U.S. remain stable amid the changing global environment."