Kulick, Russian Ambassador: "Expecting Expansion of Sakhalin LNG Exports to Korea... Hope for Shipbuilding and Automobile Cooperation"

"Let's Find New Economic Cooperation Opportunities in the Far East Based on Russia's New Eastern Policy and Korea's New Northern Policy"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Andrey Borisovich Kulik, the Russian Ambassador to Korea, announced on the 23rd that the export volume of liquefied natural gas (LNG) produced in Russia's Far East region to Korea could significantly increase after 2024.

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry invited Ambassador Kulik on the same day to hold a webinar titled "30 Years of Korea-Russia Economic Cooperation: Evaluation and Prospects."

Ambassador Kulik evaluated, "Over the 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the leaders of both nations have met more than 30 times, which shows that mutual understanding and trust between the two countries have greatly increased," adding, "The role of companies from both countries has been very significant in the development of this friendly relationship."

He also stated, "In the recent global economic crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), trade, economic, and investment cooperation between Korea and Russia is more important than anything else," and proposed, "Based on Russia's New Eastern Policy and Korea's New Northern Policy, let us jointly seek new economic cooperation opportunities in Siberia and the Far East region."

Ambassador Kulik continued, emphasizing, "Since 80% of Russia's exports to Korea are energy resources including oil and gas, the energy industry is a priority cooperation area between the two countries," and forecasted, "Russia currently exports 1.5 million tons of LNG produced at Sakhalin-2 to Korea annually, and when the third phase of the Sakhalin-2 project is completed in 2024, production capacity will increase by about 5 million tons, significantly boosting LNG supply to Korea."

He added, "We hope to actively promote cooperation in the automobile and shipbuilding sectors," and said, "Active economic cooperation will be possible as Korean companies enter the Nadezhdinskaya pilot development zone (ASEZ) industrial cooperation complex in Primorsky Krai or the modernization project of the Zvezda shipyard."

Ambassador Kulik also noted, "Korea is an important partner in the transportation sector," and emphasized, "The cargo transportation business using the Arctic route promoted by Russia will be a good opportunity for Korean shipping companies." He cited examples of Korean investments in Russia such as Korea Yakult and urged many Korean companies to actively enter the Russian market.

Ambassador Kulik majored in Chinese at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) and was appointed in 2011 as the Director of the First Asian Department, overseeing affairs related to China, Korea, North Korea, Mongolia, and others. Since August 2018, he has served as the Ambassador of Russia to Korea, holding the position for about two years.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.