Kim Byung-kyu, Deputy Governor of Gyeongnam Economy, Discusses Overseas Expansion of Hydrogen and Smart Farms During Business Trip

Meeting with Hydrogen Companies and Government Officials from Australia and New Zealand

Gyeongsangnam-do announced that Kim Byung-gyu, Deputy Governor for Economic Affairs of Gyeongsangnam-do, went on an overseas business trip to support the overseas expansion of hydrogen companies and smart farms in the province.

According to Gyeongsangnam-do on the 18th, Deputy Governor Kim has been traveling around Australia and New Zealand for 5 nights and 7 days from the 14th to the 20th, discussing cooperation plans related to the hydrogen industry and eco-friendly agriculture such as smart farms.

The delegation included Beomhan Fuel Cell and Kohigen, recognized as representative hydrogen companies of Gyeongsangnam-do, officials from Gyeongnam Technopark, a provincial-funded institution, and doctors from the Agricultural Technology Center.

Kim Byung-kyu, Deputy Governor for Economic Affairs of Gyeongnam Province (fourth from the left), and the delegation are taking a commemorative photo after discussing cooperation plans in the field of eco-friendly agriculture with Mark Furner, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry of Queensland, Australia (third from the left).
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

On the 15th, the delegation held a business roundtable to cooperate on hydrogen production and utilization, strengthening technological capabilities, and the development of the hydrogen industry.

They visited Elecseed, a hydrogen company located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, and exchanged opinions with officials from the Australian federal and state governments regarding the progress of the hydrogen industry.

On the morning of the 16th, they met with Mark Furner, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry of Queensland, to discuss cooperation plans in eco-friendly agriculture fields such as smart farms.

On this day, Deputy Governor Kim said, “Australia, a hydrogen-producing country, and Gyeongsangnam-do, with a solid manufacturing base, can help each other through mutual cooperation in the hydrogen sector beyond a relationship that has lasted over 130 years.” He added, “Australia and Gyeongsangnam-do share concerns on global issues such as globalization, liberalization, and carbon neutrality of agricultural and marine products, and it is meaningful that we have created a forum for discussions on agricultural city alliances and eco-friendly agricultural exchanges.”

Kim Byung-kyu, Deputy Governor for Economic Affairs of Gyeongnam Province (second from the right), is touring the Advanced Robotics Manufacturing (ARM) Hub with the business delegation.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

Later, at the University of Queensland, they listened to Professor Jung Jae-hoon and university officials about the CRC project, a government-supported long-term research and development project linked to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, and the current status of hydrogen-related Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) technology, discussing cooperation plans.

They visited the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub, which supports venture companies using robots, and received explanations and updates on intelligent robots and Boeing’s future air mobility.

At a meeting with the Korean Association of Oceania residents living in Brisbane, they exchanged opinions on investment attraction and talent development cooperation plans.

Professor Ban Joo-won of Central Queensland University, who attended the meeting, proposed operating a cooperation program with Gyeongsangnam-do for nurturing talent in the aviation field, and Hyun Kwang-hoon, president of the Korean Association, shared his experience selling Gyeongsangnam-do’s eco-friendly agricultural and marine products in Australia and expressed intentions to seek cooperation plans in the relevant fields.

Deputy Governor Kim and the delegation will move to New Zealand from the 18th, discuss cooperation plans for hydrogen companies and smart farms with officials from the Ministry of Government, Innovation and Employment, visit smart farms, and return home on the 20th after completing their schedule.

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