Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Vancouver

1. To mark the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the Korea–Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy, in collaboration with the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Vancouver and the Calgary chapter of the World OKTA, hosted a seminar on September 17 in Calgary. The seminar, titled “The 10th Anniversary of the Korea–Canada FTA: Alberta’s Opportunities and Challenges”, explored opportunities to strengthen cooperation between Korea and Alberta in the fields of energy and agriculture. The event brought together over 100 participants, including Alberta’s Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration, Joseph Schow, Assistant Deputy Minister for Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration, Jennifer Jabs, business leaders from the energy and agriculture sectors, academics, and members of the consular corps.

2. In his welcoming remarks, Consul General Jong-ho Kyun emphasized that since the signing of the Korea–Canada FTA—the first and only bilateral free trade agreement Canada has with an Asian country—bilateral trade has doubled, making the FTA not only a driver of economic cooperation but also a foundation of trust-based partnership. He noted that with Canadian LNG exports to Korea commencing this year, cooperation will expand from traditional energy sources such as LNG, crude oil, and LPG to new energy sectors such as hydrogen and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), as well as other fields including defense industry cooperation.

3. Minister Schow noted in his welcoming remarks that since the KCFTA came into effect, trade between Korea and Alberta doubled, and highlighted that the FTA delivered meaningful results.  He also expressed hope that milestones such as last year's 50th anniversary of the Alberta-Gangwon sister-province relationship and the launch of the direct flight between Calgary and Seoul will open up new opportunities for cooperation between Korea and Alberta.

4. As Alberta is a key hub for energy and resource production including oil, gas, nickel etc.—the province has become an essential partner in Korea’s energy and resource security. Looking forward, cooperation in new energy sectors, including hydrogen and SMRs, is expected to expand significantly.

(Photo Credit : Korean Consulate in Vancouver)