Seeking Maritime Finance Strategies for Maritime Metropolitan Growth... KMI and BFC Hold 8th Supergap Forum

"Busan Aims to Become a Global Maritime Finance Hub"
Industry, Academia, and Research Experts Present Comprehensive Solutions

The Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), together with the Busan International Financial Promotion Agency (BFC), held the 8th Maritime and Fisheries Supergap Forum on December 2 at the Busan International Financial Center (BIFC) under the theme "A New Wave of Maritime Finance, Development Strategy for Realizing the Maritime Metropolitan Area."

This forum was organized as a follow-up to the business agreement between the two institutions, with the aim of identifying future maritime industry agendas to support the realization of the maritime metropolitan area and detailing mid- to long-term financial support strategies. The event was attended by a large number of experts from industry, academia, and research in fields such as shipping, shipbuilding, maritime finance, and the Arctic route.

In the first presentation, Kim Hanna, Senior Researcher at KMI, addressed the global high interest rate environment and the increasingly stringent regulatory landscape in shipping and shipbuilding, emphasizing, "In order for domestic ship investment to transition to a sustainable structure, it is essential to refine the tax system and financial support frameworks."

In the second presentation, Lee Donghae, Head of the Maritime Finance Center at BFC, presented a roadmap aimed at expanding the maritime finance ecosystem centered on Busan, including the designation of a maritime finance special zone, the operation of a Busan ship registration special zone, and the introduction of a tax lease system.

During the subsequent panel discussion, KMI President Cho Jeonghee served as the moderator, leading an in-depth discussion with six participating experts. The panel broadly addressed key issues reflecting industry needs, including the development of specialized talent to respond to the decarbonization era, support for market entry by small and medium-sized shipbuilding and equipment companies, revitalization of private finance amid increasing global financial volatility, strengthening linkages among shipbuilding, shipping, and ports, and specialized strategies for maritime finance in Busan.

In the open discussion, representatives from the Korea Ocean Business Corporation, Busan Bank, Busan Port Authority, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, and Korean Register participated, offering more practical alternatives. Numerous policy and business-related suggestions were raised, including the improvement of the tax lease and tonnage tax systems, the growth potential of LNG bunkering services at Busan Port, the necessity of establishing mid- to long-term regional maritime funds, responses to the rapid growth of Chinese shipyards, and the creation of a maritime security fund.

Participants reaffirmed the importance of institutional cooperation, stating, "This discussion will provide a practical foundation for building the maritime finance ecosystem in Busan and the southeastern region."

KMI President Cho Jeonghee stated, "As the global competitive environment surrounding the maritime industry is changing rapidly, a comprehensive response encompassing talent, systems, and investment structures is necessary for maritime finance strategies," adding, "We will continue follow-up discussions to assist in government policy-making and help Busan and the southeastern region emerge as a global maritime finance hub."

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