Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Minister Ahn meets with U.S. lawmakers

Korea’s Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn held a luncheon meeting with a bipartisan group of seven U.S. lawmakers on September 3 in Seoul and discussed measures to strengthen Korea-U.S. economic and national security cooperation. date2024-09-03

Minister Ahn meets Bulgaria's caretaker Minister of Energy

Korea’s Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn met Bulgaria's caretaker Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov on September 3 in Seoul to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on energy cooperation and discuss measures for collaboration in nuclear power and other energy areas. date2024-09-03

Korea-Australia FTA 10th Anniversary Ceremony

Minister for Trade Inkyo Cheong attended the 10th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony of the Korea-Australia FTA on September 3 in Perth with Australia’s Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King and other relevant representatives and gave a congratulatory message and took part in the cake cutting ceremony. date2024-09-03

Critical Minerals Roundtable

Minister for Trade Inkyo Cheong attended the Critical Minerals Roundtable on September 3 in Perth with the participation of Australia’s Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell, Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia Madeleine King, and the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) Vice Chairman Kim Chang-beom and gave an opening message. date2024-09-03

Korea-IEA joint statement press conference

Director General for Energy Policy Choi Yeon-woo held a press conference with IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol on September 3 at the Korea Press Center in Seoul and announced the Korea-IEA joint statement on the occasion of their joint hosting of World Climate Industry Expo (WCE) in Busan. date2024-09-03

MOTIE-Western Australia Gov't sign clean energy cooperation MOU

Korea's Minister for Trade Inkyo Cheong and Western Australia Premier Roger Cook signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Government of Western Australia on September 3 in Perth for establishing the groundwork for clean energy development and processing cooperation. date2024-09-03

Trade Minister visits Pilgangoora Lithium Mine

Minister for Trade Inkyo Cheong visited the Pilgangoora Lithium Mine, the world’s 3rd largest lithium deposit, on September 2 with representatives of POSCO Holdings and Export Finance Australia (EFA). date2024-09-03

45th Korea-Australia Economic Cooperation Committee (ECCC) meeting

Minister for Trade Inkyo Cheong attended the 45th Korea-Australia Economic Cooperation Committee (ECCC) meeting opening ceremony on September 2 in Perth and gave a congratulatory message.   The event was attended by representatives of both countries’ governments and relevant companies. date2024-09-03

Minister Ahn and bipartisan U.S. lawmaker group discuss stronger Korea-U.S. economic cooperation

Korea’s Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn held a luncheon meeting with a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers today in Yeouido, Seoul, and discussed measures for stronger Korea-U.S. cooperation in advanced industries and other wide-ranging areas. Led by Republican Senator Bill Hagerty from Tennessee, the group consisted of seven U.S. Senators, including Republican Senator Katie Britt from Alabama, Republican Senator Dan Sullivan from Alaska, Democratic Senator Chris Coons from Delaware, Democratic Senator Gary Peters from Michigan, Republican Senator Eric Schmitt from Missouri, and Republican Senator John Thune from South Dakota. Minister Ahn remarked that amid recently intensifying changes in the global economy, Korea and the U.S. can secure both national prosperity and global supply chain stability through continued bilateral cooperation. He also highlighted the need for the two economic partners to solidify their shared understanding through various channels across diverse areas based on close communication and trust. Moreover, the minister noted that Korean businesses have sharply increased investments in the U.S.’ advanced industries like semiconductors, batteries, and electric vehicles (EVs), playing a major part in nurturing the U.S.’ industrial ecosystem. Requesting interest and support at the Congress-level, he asked that U.S. trade policies be carried out in ways favorable to Korean businesses in the local market so that Korean firms can further contribute to strengthening the U.S. supply chain while maintaining smooth business operations.   date2024-09-03

Korea and Bulgaria enter MOU on bilateral energy cooperation

Korea’s Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Dukgeun Ahn met Bulgaria's caretaker Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov today in Seoul to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on energy cooperation and discuss measures for collaboration in nuclear power and other energy areas. They first acknowledged the importance of bilateral cooperation in strengthening energy security and expanding clean energy in view of frequent climate anomalies and persisting geopolitical uncertainties, such as the Middle East tensions and the Russia-Ukraine war. Minister Ahn highlighted that prospects for bilateral cooperation are high, as Bulgaria is actively harnessing clean energy sources like nuclear power (35 percent of power generation) and renewables (20 percent), while Korea is accelerating efforts to attain energy security and carbon neutrality based on carbon-free energy sources. He added that he looks forward to seeing today’s talks act as a catalyst for invigorating the Korea-Bulgaria energy collaboration. On the occasion of the talks, the two sides entered an energy cooperation MOU to enhance cooperation across areas of common interest. A wholly amended version of the energy cooperation MOU previously sealed in 2019, the fresh MOU extends the scope of bilateral cooperation by adding liquefied natural gas (LNG), energy storage, and supply chains to the existing areas of cooperation. In addition, it further specifies the areas of cooperation for nuclear energy, including nuclear new build, continued operation, decommissioning, radioactive waste management, small modular reactors (SMRs), and manpower training. Minister Ahn also introduced the Korean government’s Carbon Free Energy (CFE) Initiative, which aims for the effective achievement of carbon neutrality through the utilization of various carbon-free energy sources, and asked Bulgaria’s support and interest in its global diffusion.   date2024-09-03