1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will hold the 2017 Korea-Europe Energy Cooperation Seminar at Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul on April 25 under the sponsorship of the National Assembly New and Renewable Energy Research Forum.

o The upcoming seminar will be attended by about 200 people, including energy experts from the UK, Poland, Norway, Denmark, Spain, the European Commission, and the International Energy Agency (IEA), as well as the diplomatic corps in the ROK, representatives from domestic and foreign energy-related organizations and private companies, and academic experts.

2. The seminar will begin with an opening speech by Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs Lee Tae-ho of the Foreign Ministry, congratulatory remarks by co-head of the National Assembly New and Renewable Energy Research Forum Lee Won-wook and EU Ambassador to the ROK Michael Reiterer, and a presentation by Deputy Head of Cabinet for Vice-President of the European Commission Bernd Biervert. Following them, participants will engage in in-depth discussions on smart grid, new and renewable energy, and the new energy industry in three sessions.

o On April 26, the day after the seminar, the Foreign Ministry will arrange a business meeting between foreign speakers invited to the seminar and Korean businessmen in order to provide an opportunity to discuss the possibility of Korean companies’ participation in projects in other countries.

3. The Foreign Ministry has provided active support to Korean companies, including by informing them about the trends in foreign energy markets. The Foreign Ministry hopes that the forthcoming seminar will contribute significantly to Korean companies’ efforts to increase presence in the global energy market, facing a transition period following the launch of the new climate regime, as well as the successful implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, and the ROK’s efforts to restore economic vitality.


* unofficial translation