South Korea Seeks Investment in the Netherlands, a Hub of Advanced Technology

An event was held to promote exchanges between South Korea and the Netherlands with the aim of attracting increased investment from semiconductor and advanced technology companies.

On June 12 (local time), KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency) Invest Korea, together with Gwangmyeong City and Incheon International Airport Corporation, hosted the 'Korea-Netherlands Advanced Industry Investment Promotion Seminar' in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.

This event was attended by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), the government of the province of Brabant, High Tech NL (the Dutch advanced industry association), and more than 30 leading Dutch companies in the semiconductor and advanced technology sectors, creating a lively atmosphere. According to KOTRA, the active participation of companies with core technologies in future industries such as micro/nano electronics, new materials, and photonics demonstrated the high level of interest and strong intention of the Dutch advanced technology sector to enter the Korean market.

KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency)

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KOTRA gave a presentation on South Korea's investment environment and incentives, as well as trends and policies in the country's semiconductor industry and the current status of semiconductor clusters. The seminar also introduced region-specific support programs, such as the Incheon Airport Free Trade Zone and Gwangmyeong Techno Valley, along with case studies of Dutch companies that have successfully entered the Korean market, drawing significant interest from participating companies. The Incheon Airport Free Trade Zone emphasized its strengths as a global logistics hub, while Gwangmyeong City highlighted its strategy to attract companies in artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and robotics, leveraging its well-located urban high-tech industrial complex.

The Dutch government has designated IT technologies, including artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, as one of its top 10 priority industries, and is expanding large-scale research and development (R&D) investments and global cooperation. For the Netherlands, South Korea is becoming increasingly important as a strategic base for entry into Asia and as an innovation partner. In the Netherlands, global semiconductor equipment companies such as ASML are supplying advanced equipment, including extreme ultraviolet (EUV) technology, to major Korean semiconductor customers, while Korean semiconductor equipment and component companies are also actively entering the Dutch market. KOTRA is preparing a range of support measures to expand such mutual investment and cooperation, including partnerships with local clusters, support for startups, and the identification of investment promotion projects.

Hong Seokin, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Netherlands, stated, "The Netherlands possesses world-class technological capabilities in semiconductor equipment, precision instruments, and optical technology. Therefore, we expect to see complementary synergy effects through strategic linkages between our K-semiconductor cluster and policies to foster advanced manufacturing."

Kim Taehyung, President of KOTRA Invest Korea, said, "The Netherlands is a hub of advanced technology industry innovation in Europe, and there is significant global demand for cooperation in future industries such as semiconductors, new materials, and photonics. I hope that this seminar will serve as an opportunity to expand investment from outstanding Dutch semiconductor and advanced technology companies, contribute to the stabilization of global supply chains, and secure future growth engines."

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