Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan, left, shakes hands with his Canadian counterpart, Melanie Joly, during their meeting held in Ottawa, Tuesday (local time). Courtesy of Minister Kim's office
Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan has met with Canadian government and industry officials to ask for support for a Korean consortium's bid to win Canada's key submarine project and discuss expanding industrial and resource partnership between the two countries, Kim's office said Thursday.
Kim met with his Canadian counterpart, Melanie Joly, Tuesday (local time) in Ottawa to discuss progress in the two countries' partnership projects in relation to Canada's estimated 60 trillion-won ($41.4 billion) project to build as many as 12 new conventionally powered submarines, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.
The Korean consortium, comprising Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, is one of the two final contenders for the high-profile project, alongside Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems.
As part of efforts to help the Korean consortium win the project, the Seoul government has offered expanding industrial cooperation in different areas, such as the hydrogen sector, with Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor proposing collaboration on creating a hydrogen mobility ecosystem in Canada.
On Wednesday, Kim held a meeting with Canadian lawmaker Hassan Yussuff to discuss strategic cooperation between Seoul and Ottawa in connection with the submarine project, while expressing gratitude for Canada's Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association's (APMA) support for the Korean consortium in the bidding process in a separate meeting with APMA chairman Flavio Volpe.
Last week, APMA signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hanwha Aerospace and its sister company Hanwha Ocean to establish a new entity for the production of non-commercial industrial and military vehicles on the condition that the Korean shipbuilder gets selected for the Canadian submarine project.
Kim also met with Canadian Energy Minister Tim Hodgson to explore ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in energy and resources amid heightened volatility in global supply chains, according to the ministry.
The ministry said two Korean research institutes signed MOUs for research cooperation with Canadian entities on industrial technologies for ice breakers and others during Kim's visit to the North American nation.
"Winning Canada's submarine project would represent more than just a defense procurement deal for Korea as it would become an important turning point in building a long-term partnership between the two countries," Kim said in a press release, vowing continued efforts to help the Korean consortium clinch the deal.
Source: Korea Times News
