AKBC e-Newsletter July
Dear AKBC Members,
Welcome to the July 2023 edition of our newsletter, dedicated to keeping you informed about the latest Australia-Korea trade and bilateral developments. We are excited to share some remarkable collaborations and projects that demonstrate the strengthening ties between our two nations.
Firstly, we are thrilled to announce that Victoria has secured a multibillion-dollar defence contract with South Korean company Hanwha Defense. This contract will involve the development of a cutting-edge fleet of infantry fighting vehicles at a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Geelong. Outbidding competitors, Hanwha will manufacture over 100 next-generation Redback vehicles at the impressive $170 million Geelong facility. This partnership signifies a significant milestone in our defence cooperation and will undoubtedly bring about mutual benefits.
In the realm of green energy, we are pleased to report that the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and the developers of the Western Green Energy Hub (WGEH) have signed a momentous Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This agreement reaffirms KEPCO's keen interest in participating in the WGEH project, located in the southeast of Western Australia, spanning over 15,000 sq kms on Mirning Country. The WGEH project, one of Australia's largest proposed green hydrogen hubs, has the potential to produce up to 3.5 Mt of zero-carbon green hydrogen annually for domestic and international customers, including South Korea.
Another groundbreaking collaboration has been initiated in the agricultural sector. GreenPlus Co. Ltd. (GreenPlus Korea) and its subsidiary, GreenPlus Aus Pty Ltd (GreenPlus Australia), have signed a significant MOU with The University of Queensland (UQ) to drive protected cropping research and growth within the industry. Partnering with UQ, a global leader in agriculture and food science research, this collaboration is set to propel the industry forward and bring about cutting-edge developments.
As we look forward to the future, we are excited to be finalising the agenda for the upcoming 44th KABC-AKBC Joint Meeting, scheduled to take place in Seoul on September 7-8. Registrations will be closing on 18 August, so I urge you to register now to join our Australian delegation in Seoul for what promises to be an exciting opportunity to further strengthen bilateral relations, foster new partnerships, and explore new opportunities for cooperation between Australia and Korea. Details on the agenda and how to register are below.
We appreciate your continued support and engagement with our newsletter. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we welcome any suggestions or queries you may have. Please feel free to reach out to us at info@akbc.com.au. Let's continue to work together in promoting mutual prosperity and friendship between Australia and Korea.
Thank you for joining us in this journey of collaboration and progress.
Sincerely,
Louise Clunies-Ross
AKBC Executive Director
Please click here to read our full newsletter.