Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) held the Korea–Canada Advanced Industry Cooperation Business Roundtable (BRT) in Toronto on June 1, 2026. Organized by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), the roundtable brought together Kang Hoon-sik, Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic of Korea and Special Envoy for Strategic Economic Cooperation; MOTIR Vice Minister Moon Shin-hak; Lee Yong-cheol, Minister of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA); Stephen Lecce, Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Mines; and more than 50 business leaders from major defense, space, and hydrogen companies in Korea and Canada.

The roundtable focused on practical cooperation projects between companies in future growth industries with significant potential for strategic cooperation between Korea and Canada, including defense, space, and hydrogen. Participants also explored how both governments could support these efforts. Hanwha presented possible defense and space cooperation, while Hyundai Motor outlined hydrogen cooperation opportunities, including projects in Canada.

“By combining Canada’s abundant resources and advanced technologies with Korea’s world-class manufacturing capabilities, the two countries can lead global markets in advanced industries,” Special Envoy Kang said. “Industrial cooperation between Korea and Canada should go beyond simple buying and supplying and develop into a broader ecosystem that connects technology, security, and talent.”

The delegation then visited Martinrea International Inc., a key party to the MOU signed in April 2026 between Hanwha and the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA) of Canada. APMA President Flavio Volpe and executives from eight leading Canadian auto parts companies also joined the visit, showing strong interest in defense manufacturing cooperation with Korea.

Special Envoy Kang said cooperation between Hanwha and APMA marks an important step for Canada’s automotive industry, a cornerstone of the Ontario economy, to expand into defense. “I hope companies from both countries will build new models for success in Canada and create new opportunities to jointly expand into third-country markets,” he said.

MOTIR also announced that Korean and Canadian companies signed three MOUs in space and defense on the sidelines of the roundtable and site visit, covering satellite communications, launch facilities, and defense vehicles.