The European companies — Germany’s Orafol, France’s Quandela, the Netherlands’ Prodrive Technologies and Sweden’s Mycronic — unveiled their investment plans in Korea in the semiconductor, quantum computing and other key industries during the investment announcement ceremony co-hosted by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, according to the officials at the industry ministry.
The ceremony was held Wednesday (local time) marking South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to Belgium for a meeting with EU leaders.
South Korea held a separate roundtable event with European business leaders to discuss ways to expand cooperation between the two economies amid heightened geopolitical risks, the global rise of trade protectionism and rapid technological advancements.
The ministry said South Korea and the EU have also signed an official digital trade agreement (DTA) in a bid to promote bilateral trade related to the digital economy and ease digital regulations affecting their companies.
It marks the second DTA the Seoul government signed with a foreign partner, following Singapore.
For broader industrial cooperation, the two sides agreed to establish high-level economic dialogue to facilitate consultations over trade, strategic industries and supply chains, according to the ministry.
Meanwhile, the climate ministry said South Korea and the EU have decided to establish a vice-ministerial dialogue for talks on energy issues.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (2nd from L), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (2nd from R) and European Council President Antonio Costa (C) pose for a photo with South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo (far L) and EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic during a ceremony in Brussels on June 10, 2026, to sign a digital trade agreement aimed at boosting cooperation in digital trade and enhancing protection for online consumers and cybersecurity. (Yonhap)
nyway@yna.co.kr
( YONHAP NEWS)