[Unofficial Translation] 

Business leaders from the Republic of Korea and the Netherlands,

I am delighted to meet all of you.

It is a pleasure to join you at this meaningful event here in Amsterdam, the gateway to Europe, to discuss a vision for bilateral economic cooperation. The Netherlands is the country where Korea opened its first trade center some 60 years ago with a view to beginning trade with Europe in earnest.

Amsterdam is the city where the first Korean-made automobile, the Pony, knocked on the door to the European market in 1979. Korean cars are now among the most popular models in the Netherlands.

In 2004, Korea’s first overseas joint logistics center was established in Rotterdam, serving as a hub for Korea’s Europe-bound cargo.

Semiconductors are the symbol of bilateral cooperation today. The Netherlands’ ASML and Korea’s Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have emerged as the world’s premier businesses in their respective realms through mutually complementary and beneficial collaboration.

Vibrant corporate exchanges and cooperation have now fueled the unhindered growth of trade between our two countries. Our trade posted a record high last year, more than doubling pre-pandemic levels.

We are facing intensifying competition for technological supremacy and an unprecedented global polycrisis that includes geopolitical crises and climate change. However, based on shared universal values, our ongoing and exemplary bilateral cooperation surpasses that of any other countries. Going forward, we have to reinforce our strategic solidarity in semiconductors in order to further revitalize our bilateral collaboration.

Yesterday, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and I made a trip together to the headquarters of ASML in Veldhoven. There, semiconductor businesses from both countries agreed to establish an R&D center together in Korea for the joint development of next-generation semiconductor manufacturing technologies.

In addition, university students and engineers from Korea and the Netherlands will gather at ASML beginning next year to learn about the cutting-edge lithography technologies.

Between our governments, we will also establish a new dialogue channel for semiconductor development and sign an MOU on cooperation for key items to comprehensively discuss semiconductor supply chain issues. This will help lay a solid foundation for our two countries to form a bona fide semiconductor alliance that encompasses our governments, businesses and universities.

Along with semiconductors, carbon-free energy is another area for close bilateral cooperation going forward. As our two countries need to achieve both carbon neutrality and energy security, we have a lot to cooperate on in such areas as nuclear energy, hydrogen and offshore wind power.

Building on the MOU on cooperation in the field of nuclear energy signed today, the Korean government will actively support our globally competitive domestic companies’ participation in projects to build new nuclear power plants in the Netherlands.

The government will also actively assist hydrogen cooperation between Korea, a leading producer of hydrogen vehicles and fuel cells, and the Netherlands, which is building Europe’s largest green hydrogen plant.

In the area of offshore wind power, various forms of complementary cooperation are also underway. Hanwha Ocean secured an order to build an offshore wind turbine installation vessel that will be based on a Dutch company’s design and equipped with a large Dutch-manufactured crane. Electricity produced by Dutch companies at offshore wind farms in the North Sea is being transmitted through cables made by Korea’s LS Cable & System, lighting up the whole of Europe. Cooperation between companies from both countries proves that the climate crisis is not a crisis for economic development but a stepping stone to new growth.

Bilateral cooperation should be further strengthened in logistics where the Netherlands has global competitiveness. The Netherlands is a hub for European logistics, and the Port of Rotterdam is No. 1 in Europe and No. 10 in the world by cargo traffic. It is an advanced port – the first to develop an automated logistics system. The Busan Port Authority opened an extra-large joint logistics center exclusively for SMEs at the Port of Rotterdam last year and is planning to build Korea’s first cold chain logistics center in Europe there by 2027. Korean SMEs’ shipping costs for their Europe-bound products and fresh food will be greatly reduced, and the Netherlands’ position as a logistics hub will be consolidated.

Rotterdam’s fully unmanned port system has already proven its safety and excellence by operating without interruption even during the COVID-19 pandemic. We anticipate that this unmanned system, which is scheduled to be introduced to Korea at Busan New Port next year, will revolutionize port operations.

We look forward to continued cooperation between these two ports in our countries – both world-class logistics hubs – and between our logistics companies. The Korean government will also provide all the support necessary.

Distinguished Korean and Dutch business leaders,

The Netherlands sent thousands of young soldiers during the Korean War to defend the Republic of Korea’s freedom, forming an alliance forged in blood. Korea and the Netherlands are leading countries whose growth is based on a firm belief in liberal democracy, the rule of law, free trade and multilateralism.

I hope that today’s event will serve as a valuable opportunity to once again solidify the friendship and cooperation between businesspeople from both countries. The Republic of Korea’s government will be a reliable helper for you anytime, anywhere.

I express my gratitude once more to those from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (VNO-NCW) and the Korea International Trade Association for organizing this event.