Minister of Industry Directly Promotes Nuclear Power Plant Sales to Czech Minister: "Korea Is the Right Candidate"

Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Holds Two-Day Relay Video Talks with Nuclear Special Envoy
Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation in Nuclear Power, AI, and Electric Vehicles
Yoo Myung-hee, Chief Trade Negotiator, Seeks Support in WTO Secretary-General Election

Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant in Czech Republic. (Photo by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chae-seok] Sung Yun-mo, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, has taken the initiative to personally persuade the Czech minister to secure the Czech nuclear power plant project.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 20th that Minister Sung held relay video meetings over two days on the afternoons of the 19th and 20th with Karel Havl??ek, Czech Minister of Industry and Trade, and Jaroslav M?l, the Czech nuclear power special envoy.

This meeting was arranged to commemorate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Czech Republic and to discuss strengthening cooperation in industries such as industry, technology, and energy between the two countries.

Minister Sung Expresses Strong Will to Secure Czech New Nuclear Power Plant Project to Czech Minister

Sung Yun-mo, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy./Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Ahead of the bidding for the Czech new nuclear power plant project at the end of the year, Minister Sung actively expressed the Korean government's intention to participate to the Czech Minister of Industry and Trade and the nuclear special envoy.

During the meeting with Minister Havl??ek on the 19th, Minister Sung discussed cooperation between the two countries in the fields of nuclear power, industry, and technology.

Recently, the Czech government formalized a business plan to build one nuclear power plant in the Dukovany area. The project is expected to be launched by the end of the year, with the operator to be selected in 2022.

Minister Sung explained the competitiveness and excellence of Korean nuclear power plants and conveyed the Korean government's active participation intention to establish a foundation for winning the bid ahead of competing countries.

He emphasized, "Based on the active economic cooperation in various fields between the two countries, I hope that the nuclear power project, which will continue for the next 100 years, will be an opportunity to greatly expand the scope of cooperation between the two countries."

Focused Discussion on Full-Cycle Cooperation Plan with Nuclear Special Envoy

Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant in Czech Republic. (Photo by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power)

In the meeting with Special Envoy M?l, Minister Sung shared the current status of nuclear power projects between the two countries and focused on discussing specific full-cycle cooperation plans for nuclear power between Korea and the Czech Republic.

Minister Sung highlighted the technological prowess and excellence of Korean nuclear power by citing the example of Korea's Barakah nuclear power project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

He emphasized that internationally recognized safety, construction capabilities demonstrated in domestic and overseas projects, and the power generation model that achieved the first export within just over 30 years since the introduction of nuclear power are Korea's competitiveness optimized for the Czech nuclear power project.

In November 2017, Korea obtained the European Utility Requirements (EUR) certification. In August last year, it also acquired certification from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

To promote practical cooperation and workforce development in the nuclear power sector between companies of both countries, Minister Sung proposed establishing a full-cycle cooperation system for nuclear power.

Since the two countries have already signed multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) in areas such as nuclear power design, equipment and parts manufacturing, construction, and nuclear fuel, the collaboration foundation between companies is considered well established.

They discussed ways for the governments and companies of both countries to jointly promote specific cooperative projects.

Minister Sung reiterated, "Let us make the Czech nuclear power project not just a typical overseas construction project but an opportunity to open a new chapter of cooperation in bilateral relations."

The government decided to continue the cooperation dialogue between the two countries based on this meeting.

It plans to actively support the activities of 'Team Korea,' which includes Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and related companies, to respond to the Czech nuclear power project bidding and strengthen competitiveness.

Currently, Team Korea has formed a dedicated bidding organization and is advancing bidding activities such as preparing the bid proposal draft.

Consensus on Cooperation with Czech Republic in AI and Electric Vehicles

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, Minister Sung and Minister Havl??ek reached a consensus to actively cooperate in advanced industries such as artificial intelligence (AI) and electric vehicles.

The Czech Republic established and is promoting a National Strategy of AI in May. As the fifth largest automobile producer in Europe, it produced approximately 1.43 million vehicles last year.

Minister Sung proposed to Minister Havl??ek the establishment of a working-level cooperation channel focused on AI and robotics cooperation.

Both countries agreed to strengthen technological cooperation in eco-friendly and digital sectors to support industrial cooperation.

They also agreed on the necessity to expand the research scope of the 'Korea-Czech Joint Funding R&D Program,' which has been supported since 2016, focusing on AI, hydrogen, and green mobility, and to increase the number of supported projects.

Minister Sung proposed holding the 'Korea-Czech Industrial Cooperation Committee' within this year to maintain the momentum of cooperation and promote achievement creation.

Minister Sung also requested the Czech side to show special interest and support for Yoo Myung-hee, Director-General for Trade Negotiations, in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General election.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General (DG) election has officially begun. The person on the far right in the top row is Yoo Myung-hee, Head of Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. (Image source=AP Yonhap News)

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