Bucharest, July 3, 2023 – According to a press release from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Romania, on July 6, 2023, the “The Republic of Korea-Romania 2023 Defense Industry Cooperation Conference” will take place in Bucharest.
The conference will be the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, together with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) of the Republic of Korea, the Defense Industry Association of the Republic of Korea and the Agency for the Promotion of Trade and Investments of the Republic of Korea-KOTRA Bucharest, with the support of the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism in Romania.
The conference will take place on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at the JW Marriott Bucharest Hotel, starting at 10:00 a.m., with the participation of over 120 decision-makers from Korea and Romania, with recognized expertise in the field of defense, such as government officials, members of the Parliament, representatives of companies from the defense industry, mass media, academia and non-governmental organizations.
Recent high-level exchanges as well as working visits between the two countries in the field of defense industry highlight the need to strengthen a promising cooperation, with both sides agreeing to expand dialogue and expertise. Moreover, in the defense industry, this cooperation has recently materialized through the two Memorandums of Understanding signed in February this year, between the Romanian state defense contractor Romarm and the Korean manufacturer of aircraft engines and the Korean defense utility company Hanwha Aerospace and aerospace manufacturer and defense company LIG Nex1.
The conference aims to create a platform for intensifying the collaboration between the two countries in the field of the defense industry, for dynamizing the dialogue between the institutions and the private sector in this field, as well as for the creation of concrete business opportunities between the companies involved and experts in this field.
At the opening of the event, His Excellency Mr. Kap-soo RIM, ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Hwan Seug KANG, Deputy Minister, Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), Mr. Laurenţiu-Dan LEOREANU, deputy and president of the Committee for Defense, Public Order and National Security of the Chamber of Deputies, Mrs. Daniela NICOLESCU, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism and Lieutenant General Mr. Teodor Incicaş, Head of the General Directorate for Armaments within the Ministry of National Defense. The program following the official opening consists of a government session organized in the first part of the day, followed by a business session in the afternoon, as well as B2B business meetings.
The government session begins with the presentation of Mr. Sungmin Ma, director of the Europe-Asia Division of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). With the theme “Korea the best partner for defense industry cooperation”, Director Ma will explain the background of the rapid growth of the Korean defense industry, the main features of the Korean weapon system, the support of the Korean government and the future development of defense industry cooperation. between Romania and the Republic of Korea.
Mr. Colonel Eugen Moldoveanu, representative of the Defense Industry Development Directorate of the Romanian Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, will make a presentation of the Romanian government’s policies under the title “The future of cooperation between Korea and Romania in the field of defense industry”.
At the same time, from the Ministry of National Defense, Lieutenant General Mr. Teodor Incicaş, Head of the General Directorate for Armaments, will discuss the “Romanian Army Modernization Plan and Acquisition Programs”.
In the afternoon business session, major Korean defense industry companies including Hanwha Aerospace, Hyundai Rotem, HD Hyundai Infracore, SNT Dynamics, Poongsan will make a presentation of weapon systems such as the K-9 SPH (self-propelled howitzer), REDBACK IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle), K2 MBT (Black Panther Battle Tank), Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV), K2 MBT Powerpack (transmission system), KM120 (120mm mortar) and ammunition infantry (small/medium/large caliber).
Also, Korean companies specializing in aeronautics and aerospace defense, including KAI (Korea Aerospace Industries LTD), LIGnex1 and MCS Tech, will present advanced weapon systems such as the KUH-1 (Korean Transport Helicopter-Surion) , LAH (Attack helicopter), MANPAD (R-PSAM), VSHO/SHORAD anti-aircraft systems, Mine detectors, Specialized IT systems, etc.
After the end of the conference, a B2B business consultation session will be held, based on the survey conducted by the Korea Trade and Investment Promotion Agency-KOTRA Bucharest among Korean and Romanian defense companies.
