Canada's Industry Minister Melanie Jolie, left, and Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan pose after the agreement ceremony for submarine, security and industrial cooperation, in Seoul, Jan. 29. Captured from Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik's Instagram
Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and high-ranking officials from major Korean companies, including Hyundai Motor, met with the Canadian industry minister this week to discuss industrial cooperation between the two countries, Kim's office said Friday, amid an ongoing bid by a Korean consortium to secure Canada's high-profile submarine project.
Kim met with Canadian Industry Minister Melanie Joly on Thursday (local time) after they attended the construction completion ceremony of Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution's (LGES) battery plant in Ontario, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources.
Their meeting was also joined by officials from Hyundai Motor and other Korean companies as the two sides are discussing broader cooperation in various industries in connection with the Korean consortium's bid to secure the estimated 60 trillion-won ($40.6 billion) Canadian Patrol Submarine Project.
The Korean consortium, comprising Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, is competing against Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems to win orders for all 12 submarines to be commissioned by Canada.
Canada has reportedly shown interest in cooperation in the automobile sector in connection with the submarine deal, asking Korea's Hyundai Motor to build a local manufacturing facility while asking Germany's Volkswagen to expand its existing facility.
In line with such a request, Hyundai Motor proposed cooperation on creating a hydrogen mobility ecosystem in Canada, highlighting the importance and potential of Canada's hydrogen industry, according to the ministry.
The ministry said Kim expressed hope Seoul and Ottawa can advance their industrial partnership through the submarine project, vowing the government's continued support to help the Korean consortium clinch victory.
"Just as LG Energy Solution has faithfully fulfilled its commitments for investment and job creation in Canada, we hope that the submarine project will become an opportunity for the two countries to build a long-term partnership based on trust and to move toward the future together," Kim told Joly, according to the ministry.
LGES recently announced its plan to expand employment capacity at its NextStar Energy plant in Ontario to 2,500 from the original target of 1,300, with a vision of establishing the largest energy storage system grid in North America.
Source: Korea Times News
