Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Korea and Japan’s business leaders seek synergy from bilateral economic cooperation

The Republic of Korea’s Minister for Trade, Industry and Energy Dukgeun Ahn attended the 31st Korea-Japan Business Conference today in Seoul, co-hosted by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) and the Japan Business Federation.  Launched in 1983, the Korea-Japan Business Conference is held on a regular basis as a channel for highest-level private-sector economic cooperation and has contributed with valuable suggestions to developing the bilateral economic cooperation. In his congratulatory message, Minister Ahn expressed appreciation for both countries’ business leaders’ efforts to advance Korea-Japan relations and vowed support for bilateral economic cooperation through close intergovernmental communication amid increasing global uncertainties. In commemoration of next year marking the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, the minister shared plans to deepen bilateral cooperation through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju City and the Osaka Expo, both slated for 2025. He ensured the Korean government’s active assistance in gaining outcomes over areas such as economic security cooperation, global green growth leadership through the Carbon Free Energy (CFE) Initiative, and joint efforts with the Global South and other third countries.   On the margins of the bilateral conference, Korean and Japanese economic groups discussed measures for cooperation with regard to realizing a sustainable society through digital transformation and hydrogen utilization, trade and investment issues including the Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral cooperation, as well as future collaboration for expanding people-to-people exchanges and making preparations for the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations.   date2024-10-18

Minister Ahn discusses Korea-U.S. economic cooperation with North Dakota Governor

The Republic of Korea’s Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn held talks with U.S. Governor of North Dakota Doug Burgum today on the occasion of the governor’s visit to Korea and discussed the importance of establishing stable cooperative relations for Korea and the U.S.’ development, noting that the two countries’ alliance is advancing towards one of high-tech industries and supply chains through concerted efforts such as the Korea-U.S. summit and the joint statement declared at Camp David in 2023. During the talks, Minister Ahn addressed the need for continuity of U.S. major policies that are capable of directly impacting the Korea-U.S. economic and investment cooperation, including the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and CHIPS and Science Act, so as to spur positive business expectations among Korean firms collaborating with U.S. counterparts. Both sides shared the understanding on the importance of Korea-U.S. relations in view of the two countries’ cooperation as key economic partners and agreed to further efforts in establishing stable and forward-looking bilateral relations. Minister Ahn also expressed high regard for the cooperation potential between Korea and North Dakota in light of Korea’s aim to nurture its hydrogen industry and achieve carbon neutrality through enhanced carbon capture technologies, as well as North Dakota’s key role in the Heartland Hydrogen Hub, and asked for Governor Burgum’s interest and support towards fostering a stable investment and business management environment to promote Korean companies’ investments in not only North Dakota but across the whole of U.S.   date2024-10-18

Korea and Oman discuss economic cooperation

Minister for Trade Inkyo Cheong met Oman’s Undersecretary for Investment Promotion at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion Ibtisam Al Farooji and Ambassador of Oman to Korea Zakariya Hamed Hilal Al Saadi on October 16 in Seoul to discuss measures for bilateral economic cooperation. date2024-10-17

Korea and ASEAN to cooperate for launch of bilateral Trade and Economic Think Tank Dialogue in 2025

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea announced plans today with regard to launching the Korea-ASEAN Trade and Economic Think Tank Dialogue (“Dialogue”), proposed by Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol during the 25th Korea-ASEAN Summit held on October 10 in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The Dialogue was first proposed as a concrete joint project on the occasion of the bilateral Korea-ASEAN diplomatic relations advancing to a comprehensive strategic partnership in commemoration of this year marking the 35th anniversary of the establishment of the Korea-ASEAN dialogue relations, as well as a follow-up measure to the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI) announced by the Yoon administration at the 23rd Korea-ASEAN Summit in November 2022. Through the joint organization of MOTIE and the ASEAN Secretariat, the Dialogue is to function as a regular consultative channel involving the participation of Korea and 10 ASEAN countries’ major trade and economic research institutions. Korea and other ASEAN chair countries will be launching joint research projects, forums, and seminars on a regular basis, the results of which will be shared via high-level Korea-ASEAN economic platforms like the Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM) and the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Meeting. MOTIE plans to convene the inaugural Dialogue meeting in the first half of 2025 in Seoul through close communication with ASEAN so as to establish the Dialogue as a chief economic cooperation platform between Korea and ASEAN.   date2024-10-14

Korea and EU launch 6th negotiating round for bilateral Digital Trade Agreement

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea announced today that government delegations of Korea and the EU will be entering the sixth official negotiating round for a bilateral Digital Trade Agreement (DTA) from October 15–17 in Seoul. With the shared vision to establish high-level digital trade norms based on the Korea-EU Digital Trade Principles agreed on the margins of the Korea-EU Trade Committee meeting convened in November 2022, the two sides have held five negotiating rounds since announcing the joint statement to launch DTA negotiations (October 2023). The sixth negotiating round will focus on seeking ways to move the negotiations forward through continued discussions in view of outcomes gained thus far. The Korea-EU DTA is anticipated to invigorate the bilateral trade of digital goods and services through an upgrade of digital trade rules, while also widening doors of opportunity for Korean businesses’ global market entry and collaboration by creating a more stable digital business environment.   date2024-10-14

Korea and Slovakia establish comprehensive base for wider cooperation in trade, industry, and energy

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn of the Republic of Korea and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of the Slovak Republic Denisa Saková signed a bilateral Trade and Investment Promotion Framework (TIPF) memorandum of understanding (MOU) today in Seoul in the presence of Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on the margins of the Korea-Slovakia summit. Slovakia is among Korea’s top 10 EU trade partners and home to roughly 140 Korean businesses, where active bilateral supply chain collaboration is ongoing in automobiles and home appliances. Their cooperation is extending to future-oriented industries as well, such as electronic vehicles (EVs) and clean energy.   Korea and Slovakia plan to leverage their TIPF to not only advance trade and investment but also expand their comprehensive cooperation base across various areas such as industry, energy, and supply chains through joint corporate project development, promotion of business and institutional exchanges, and removal of trade barriers. The bilateral TIPF MOU sealed today follows those Korea previously inked with Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, laying down the groundwork for wider economic cooperation with the Visegrád Group (V4). Korea’s trade volume with the V4 has continued to rise by an average of 15 percent every year through 2004–2023, reaching a historic USD 26.1 billion last year.  With the existing Korea-V4 cooperation in automobiles and home appliances newly spreading to other areas like EV batteries, nuclear reactors, and defense, the complete Korea-V4 TIPF channel established on this occasion is anticipated to create fresh momentum for broadening the scope of Korea’s economic cooperation with the V4 countries.   date2024-09-30

Trade Minister meets Kenya’s Ambassador to Korea

Trade Minister Cheong held talks with Emmy Kipsoi, Kenya’s Ambassador to Korea, on September 26 in Seoul and discussed measures for widening bilateral economic cooperation including the Korea-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). date2024-09-27

Korea and Serbia launch negotiations for bilateral EPA

Korea’s Minister for Trade Inkyo Cheong and Serbia’s Minister of Domestic and Foreign Trade Tomislav Momirović jointly declared the launching of negotiations for the Korea-Serbia Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) today in Seoul, announcing Korea’s first trade negotiations with a Balkan country. date2024-09-26

Korea and Serbia launch negotiations for bilateral EPA

Korea’s Minister for Trade Inkyo Cheong and Serbia’s Minister of Domestic and Foreign Trade Tomislav Momirović jointly declared the launching of negotiations for the Korea-Serbia Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) today in Seoul, announcing Korea’s first trade negotiations with a Balkan country. Strategically located in the center of the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe, Serbia is rich in critical resources such as lithium and zinc. It is rapidly rising as Europe’s new production base based on its robust manufacturing sector and is already home to Korea’s car parts and mobility businesses. Going forward, the two countries can anticipate cooperation over advanced industrial supply chains such as battery and electric vehicles (EVs), as well as nuclear reactors in view of the Serbian government’s recent push for nuclear power development. Noting that this year commemorates the 35th anniversary of the establishment of Korea-Serbia diplomatic relations, Trade Minister Cheong expressed his expectations for the EPA negotiations to serve as an institutional basis for opening new horizons on the two countries’ cooperative ties, catalyzing bilateral collaboration across various areas including automobiles, high-tech, renewable energy, and nuclear reactors. In conjunction with the launch of negotiations, MOTIE also held a business conference with Korean companies operating in the Serbian market and other relevant institutions to discuss promising joint projects in information technology, bio, energy, and critical minerals supply chains.   date2024-09-26

Korea and Thailand launch 2nd official negotiating round for bilateral EPA

Korea’s Minister for Trade Inkyo Cheong met with Thai Deputy Commerce Minister Suchart Chomklin on the margins of the second round of official negotiations for the Korea-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) from September 25–27 in Seoul. In his opening address, Trade Minister Cheong urged the two delegations to partake in the negotiations with a forward-looking mindset to establish a bilateral trade agreement better tailored to the new global trade order and to improving the two countries’ economic cooperation. date2024-09-26