Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Korea and Vietnam hold ceremony for signing of minutes

Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Dukgeun Ahn and Vietnam’s Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien held a ceremony on April 14 in Hanoi for the signing of minutes of the 14th Korea-Vietnam Joint Industrial Committee and 8th Korea-Vietnam FTA Joint Committee meetings. date2025-04-14

14th Korea-Vietnam Joint Industrial Committee & 8th FTA Joint Committee

Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Dukgeun Ahn met Vietnam’s Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien today in Hanoi for the 14th Korea-Vietnam Joint Industrial Committee and 8th Korea-Vietnam FTA Joint Committee meetings and discussed measures for reaching USD 150 billion in bilateral trade volume by 2030, cooperation in Vietnamese nuclear reactor projects, LNG power generation, clean energy development, and enhancing companies’ utilization of the bilateral FTA. date2025-04-14

Vice Minister attends Korea Pavilion opening ceremony at World Expo 2025 Osaka

Korea’s Trade, Industry and Energy Vice Minister Namho Choe attended the Korea Pavilion opening ceremony at World Expo 2025 Osaka on April 13 with the participation of Korea and Japan’s government delegations, related institutions, and business leaders including Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) President Kang Kyung-sung and Commissioner General of the 2025 World Exposition in Japan Haneda Koji. date2025-04-14

Vice Minister meets IEA Deputy Executive Director

Korea’s Trade, Industry and Energy Vice Minister Namho Choe met International Energy Agency (IEA)'s Deputy Executive Director Mary Burce Warlick on April 10 in Seoul for discussions on changes in the global energy market and response measures. date2025-04-14

Trade Minister meets senior U.S. commerce officials

Korea’s Trade Minister Inkyo Cheong met U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Jeffrey Kessler and Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Nominee William Kimmitt on April 9 (local time) in Washington D.C. to discuss export controls and other trade issues. date2025-04-11

Trade Minister meets U.S. Trade Representative

Korea’s Trade Minister Inkyo Cheong met U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on April 8 (local time) in Washington D.C. to discuss bilateral trade issues. date2025-04-11

Public and Private Sector Experts Gather in Seoul to Discuss Clean Energy Transition

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE, Minister Ahn Duk-geun) held the 16th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) and 10th Mission Innovation (MI) high-level working meetings in Seoul on April 9–11, 2025, bringing together about 280 participants from the governments of 24 member economies, international organizations, and the public and private sectors. During the meetings, participants exchanged views on trends in clean energy distribution, technological innovations, and policies to expedite clean energy transitions in line with global energy and climate goals. They also discussed sector-specific joint measures and preparations for the CEM and MI ministerial conferences slated for August 2025. As the chair of this year’s CEM and MI ministerial meetings, Korea proposed expanding clean power, promoting hydrogen as a future fuel, artificial intelligence (AI), and energy innovation as key agenda items. Given the importance of clean power, hydrogen, and AI technology to climate action, clean energy distribution, and energy security, participants are expected to actively seek joint measures for related support policies and technological innovations. The CEM and MI ministerial conferences will be held in Busan on August 26–27, 2025, alongside the APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting on August 27–28, 2025, and the World Climate Industry EXPO on August 27–29, 2025. Together, the events are expected to provide a broad forum for discussions on measures for sustainable growth and cooperation among energy leaders from more than 40 countries. date2025-04-10

Minister Ahn meets Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade

Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Dukgeun Ahn of the Republic of Korea met Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour today in Seoul to discuss bilateral industry cooperation and trade issues. date2025-04-08

Korea to Accelerate Industrial Cooperation with Morocco

Minister Ahn Duk-geun of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) met with Moroccan Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour in Seoul on April 8, 2025, to discuss bilateral industry cooperation and trade issues. A strategic hub connecting Europe and Africa, Morocco has strong growth potential, supported by its demographics, critical minerals, and supply chain competitiveness. The country is considered a major emerging Global South country with an FTA network spanning 55 economies.  More Korean companies have also been entering the Moroccan market. In February, Hyundai Rotem won a KRW 2.2 trillion (USD 1.5 billion) order from Morocco’s National Railways Office (ONCF). Auto parts manufacturers are also diversifying their business models by broadening their overseas production base, including in Morocco, to export their goods to third-country markets in Europe. The talks came at a time when Korean companies need to expand their export markets amid the rapidly shifting international trade order. Minister Mezzour noted that Morocco is the only African country with FTAs with both the United States and the EU, highlighting Morocco’s advantageous position as a gateway to Europe, Middle East, and Africa. He also expressed hope for stronger investment cooperation with Korean companies to support industrial development and infrastructure expansion ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2030, which Morocco will co-host. Minister Ahn said combining Korea’s advanced technological capabilities with Morocco’s strength as a regional production base could create strong synergies, helping both countries respond proactively to rising protectionism and supply chain disruptions while pursuing shared growth. During the meeting, Minister Ahn proposed launching official negotiations for the swift conclusion of the bilateral Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), building on the momentum from the Korea-Africa Summit convened in June 2024, noting that the EPA can serve as a legal and institutional framework for broader trade and investment cooperation between the two countries. Minister Ahn further suggested that, ahead of the EPA’s conclusion and entry into force, the two sides a bilateral Trade and Investment Promotion Framework (TIPF) to provide a cooperative platform for close consultations on trade issues so as to expedite industrial collaborations. date2025-04-08

Minister Ahn attends Korea-Philippines Business Forum

Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Dukgeun Ahn of the Republic of Korea and Philippine’s Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go attended the Korea-Philippines Business Forum today in Seoul with the participation of 150 business leaders and government officials of both countries. In his congratulatory address, the minister assessed how the two countries have established a basis for wider economic cooperation with their bilateral relations elevated to a strategic partnership on the occasion of the last Korea-Philippines summit. He added that going forward, the Korean government plans to leverage economic cooperation platforms in making intergovernmental efforts to promote smooth business collaboration between the two countries. date2025-04-07