Changwon Chamber of Commerce and Industry Holds Forum on 'Relocation of Public Institutions to Provinces for the Rejump of Changwon Economy'

Forum on 'Relocation of Public Institutions to Provinces for the Rejump of Changwon Economy' Held
[Photo by Changwon Chamber of Commerce and Industry]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Jucheol In] Experts from academia and research institutions in the Gyeongnam region have voiced the need to promote regional growth and development through the second phase of public institution relocation to Changwon.

At the 21st Changwon Economic Research Forum held on the 30th in the main conference room of the Changwon Chamber of Commerce and Industry under the theme "Relocation of Public Institutions for the Re-advancement of Changwon's Economy," attendees expressed this consensus.

Kim Jeonghong, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, stated, "The focus should be on revitalizing industrial clusters centered around the relocated public institutions," adding, "This should proceed in a direction that promotes agglomeration by maximizing the use of existing infrastructure."

Kim further added, "To achieve this, efforts should be made to advance the existing cluster structure of Changwon City, create a science park led by the relocated public institutions, and develop into a science city through improved residential conditions."

Lee Yoonseok, head of the Future Industry Planning Team at the Changwon Industry Promotion Agency, said, "In the first phase of public institution relocation, mechanical distribution across local governments nationwide achieved regional balance but did not provide a sustainable growth plan," emphasizing, "Most public institutions are specialized in specific industrial sectors or fields, so they need to be relocated to regions suited to those sectors. Changwon, a city with a population of one million, is a local government where groundbreaking results can be expected through linkage effects with regional industries."

No Jin-song, vice president of the Gyeongnam ICT Association, expressed the need to attract research and development (R&D) institutions and industrial promotion organizations that can be linked to Changwon's strategic industries such as hydrogen and defense industries, suggesting the attraction of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Korea Data Agency, and Korea Institute of Design Promotion.

Chae Jae-woo, head of the Management Strategy Headquarters at the Korea Institute of Materials Science, pointed out, "Changwon has the handicap of being far from the metropolitan area, and to overcome this, it is necessary to prioritize national agenda preemption," adding, "A strategy is needed to propose national agendas such as the establishment of a railway innovation cluster, a major transformation of logistics at Jinhae New Port, and the grand integration of national materials research institutions, and to attract specific public institutions to achieve these goals."

Ahn Byung-oh, director of the Planning and Budget Office of Changwon City, explained, "The synergy effect that can be gained when research and development-centered public institutions are attracted to Changwon, traditionally specialized in manufacturing, will be greater than anywhere else," adding, "If efficient relocation of public institutions is achieved, Changwon will play a major role in completing the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam innovation economic belt through infrastructure construction linked with nearby innovation cities."

He also mentioned the necessity of attracting institutions such as the Korea Defense Research Institute, Korea Railroad Research Institute, Korea Energy Technology Evaluation Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, and Korea Industrial Technology Promotion Institute.

Before the forum, Gu Ja-cheon, chairman of the Changwon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said in his opening remarks, "No one can deny that balanced national development is the top priority for our country's sustainable growth," urging, "Let us continue to prepare proactively to respond swiftly ahead of the upcoming announcement of the second phase of public institution relocation."

Changwon Mayor Heo Seong-moo said in his congratulatory speech, "We will strive to attract research and development-centered public institutions that can create synergy with regional industries."

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