Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Roundtable with Korean Companies in the UAE

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) chaired a roundtable with Korean companies and support organizations operating in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Abu Dhabi on June 16, 2026, including GS Energy, Samsung C&T, Doosan Enerbility, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), and KOTRA. At the meeting, Minister Kim listened to key concerns and suggestions regarding business operations in the UAE and discussed follow-up plans with the participating companies and organizations. Minister Kim said Korea will build on its deep trust with the UAE to expand opportunities for Korean companies to participate in major plant infrastructure projects. date2026-06-17

Meeting with ADNOC Upstream CEO

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) met with senior officials at Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on June 16, 2026, including Musabbeh Al Kaabi, ADNOC Upstream CEO. The two sides confirmed that deliveries are proceeding as scheduled under the March agreement for the UAE to supply Korea with 24 million barrels of crude oil on an emergency basis. They also discussed cooperation to maintain stable crude supplies and agreed to continue talks on joint crude oil stockpiling, a key area of interest for the UAE. Minister Kim said the visit confirmed that Korea-UAE crude oil supply cooperation has moved beyond a simple trading relationship into a strategic partnership that remains effective even in times of crisis. date2026-06-17

Meeting with UAE Energy and Infrastructure Undersecretary

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) visited the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure on June 16, 2026, and met with Sharif Salim Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs, and other senior officials from key UAE nuclear power institutions. The two sides reviewed ongoing Korean-UAE corporate projects to expand cooperation across the full life cycle of Barakah plant operations, including stable nuclear fuel supply, stronger maintenance cooperation, and wider use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation (DT). They also discussed next steps to further develop the projects. Minister Kim said Korea and the UAE will build on their deep trust to deepen full life-cycle nuclear cooperation, including operation and maintenance, joint entry into third-country markets, and facility protection. date2026-06-17

Korea, Qatar Agree to Resume Stable LNG Imports and Expand Cooperation in Advanced Industries

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) visited Qatar on June 15, 2026, following his June 13–14 visit to Saudi Arabia. The visit was part of his three-country trip to the Middle East to help stabilize crude oil and gas supplies and strengthen economic and trade cooperation amid the conflict in the region. Qatar is Korea’s third-largest LNG supplier. During the April visit to Qatar by the Presidential Special Envoy for Strategic Economic Cooperation, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, assured Korea that Qatar would supply LNG without disruption once the Strait of Hormuz returned to normal operations. Minister Kim’s visit was arranged to reaffirm Qatar’s commitment to giving Korea top priority for LNG supplies and to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation into advanced industries. Minister Kim visited QatarEnergy headquarters and met with H.E. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs and President and CEO of QatarEnergy. Minister Al-Kaabi oversees Qatar’s energy policy, including oil and gas resource development and LNG contracts. At the meeting, Minister Kim received a briefing on LNG production facilities and operating conditions at Ras Laffan Industrial City after four force majeure declarations were made following the outbreak of the war in the Middle East. The two sides then discussed cooperation on the gas supply chain amid geopolitical instability in the region. Building on strong mutual trust between the two countries, Minister Kim confirmed Qatar’s unchanged position that it would give Korea top priority for LNG and condensate supplies. He also asked Minister Al-Kaabi to give due consideration to Korean companies with strong technical capabilities and support their participation as new energy plant projects are expected to move forward in earnest once the war ends. On the same day, Minister Kim met with H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry. The two sides agreed to broaden bilateral cooperation beyond energy into shipbuilding, advanced industries, and other areas. They also discussed cooperation on attracting Qatari investment to Korea’s advanced industries, including AI, biotechnology, and robotics. To strengthen the strategic partnership, the two sides agreed to hold the Korea–Qatar High-Level Strategic Cooperation Committee in Doha at an early date and use the government-wide ministerial channel to make timely progress on specific cooperation projects. “At a time of growing uncertainty in the global landscape, the solid trust and cooperation Korea and Qatar have built are important for reliable energy supplies and resilient global supply chains,” Minister Kim said. “I hope the two countries will build on stable LNG supplies to strengthen energy security, broaden cooperation in future growth areas, including advanced industries and investment cooperation, and continue high-level communication to advance the bilateral partnership.” date2026-06-16

Meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and CDC First Vice Chairman

Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) met with Sun Chanthol, Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul on June 15, 2026. The two sides discussed expanding economic and trade cooperation between Korea and Cambodia, including the implementation of the Korea–Cambodia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), official development assistance (ODA), and international greenhouse gas reduction. Minister Yeo welcomed the steady growth in bilateral trade and investment since the Korea–Cambodia FTA entered into force in 2022 and bilateral relations were upgraded to a strategic partnership in 2024. date2026-06-16

Minister Kim Hosts Roundtable with Korean Companies Operating in Qatar

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) hosted a roundtable with Korean companies operating in Qatar and support institutions on June 15, 2026. The meeting was attended by representatives from Samsung C&T Corporation, Hyundai E&C, Hanwha Engine Co., Ltd., Doosan Enerbility, and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). Minister Kim heard about key on-the-ground business difficulties and requests, and discussed next steps to support Korean companies’ operations in Qatar. Minister Kim said the trust and cooperation Korea and Qatar have built are important for reliable energy supplies and resilient global supply chains. date2026-06-16

Minister Kim Meets Qatar Minister of Commerce and Industry

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) visited Qatar on June 15, 2026, following up on the April visit to the Middle East by the Presidential Special Envoy for Strategic Economic Cooperation. Minister Kim met with H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry. The two sides agreed to broaden bilateral cooperation beyond energy into shipbuilding, advanced industries, and other areas. Minister Kim said the two countries will build on stable LNG supplies to strengthen energy security and broaden cooperation in future growth areas, including advanced industries and investment cooperation. date2026-06-16

Minister Kim Meets Qatar Minister of State for Energy Affairs and QatarEnergy CEO

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) visited QatarEnergy headquarters in Doha, Qatar, on June 15, 2026, as follow-up to the April visit to the Middle East by the Presidential Special Envoy for Strategic Economic Cooperation. Minister Kim met with H.E. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs and President and CEO of QatarEnergy. Minister Al-Kaabi oversees Qatar’s energy policy, including oil and gas resource development and LNG contracts. Minister Kim said the trust and cooperation Korea and Qatar have built are important for reliable energy supplies and resilient global supply chains. date2026-06-16

Meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) met with Bandar Al-Khorayef, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia, in Saudi Arabia on June 14, 2026, as a follow-up to the April visit to the Middle East by the Presidential Special Envoy for Strategic Economic Cooperation. The two sides discussed trade, mineral cooperation, and industrial cooperation in automobiles, shipbuilding, steel, AI, and other areas. Minister Kim also closely reviewed progress on major industrial cooperation projects Korean companies are pursuing in Saudi Arabia. Minister Kim said Korea will continue to expand economic cooperation with Saudi Arabia across manufacturing, advanced industries, and other areas, building on the practical industrial cooperation achieved so far. date2026-06-15

Meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy

Minister JK (Jung-Kwan) Kim of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) met with Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia, in Saudi Arabia on June 14, 2026, as a follow-up to the April visit to the Middle East by the Presidential Special Envoy for Strategic Economic Cooperation. The two ministers reviewed progress on the crude oil and naphtha supply commitments from the envoy’s April visit and agreed to continue coordination to supply the planned volumes without disruption through the end of the year. They also signed an MOU on crude oil and gas cooperation between Korea and Saudi Arabia to establish a medium- to long-term foundation for resource cooperation beyond short-term supply arrangements. Minister Kim said the visit helped reaffirm stable supplies of key national resources, including crude oil and naphtha, amid continued global supply chain instability and strengthen the foundation for medium- and long-term resource cooperation. date2026-06-15