European business delegation promoting partnership in Korea

A European Union delegation focusing on construction, building technologies, environment and energy-related technologies is in town until June 10.

The Gateway Program is comprised of 51 specially selected European small- and medium-sized enterprises.

“Participating European companies possess outstanding technologies and products in their field and receive comprehensive support aimed at developing business relations with Korean counterparts,” said Ambassador and Head of the European Union Delegation Tomasz Kozlowski.

The mission will include an exhibition at the COEX Convention Center Grand Ballroom on June 7-8, business meetings with potential Korean partners throughout the week, and tours of sector-related Korean facilities.

The EU Gateway Program Construction and Building Technologies and Environment and Energy-related Technologies business mission is funded and managed by the European Union.

The EU Gateway Programme is a business development program that promotes partnerships between SMEs from the 27 EU member states and Korean companies.

In 2011, more than 90 EU companies in three industry sectors ― construction and building technologies, environment and energy-related technologies, and healthcare and medical technologies ― are due to visit as part of the program.

This month, 29 companies in the construction and building sector and 22 in the environment and energy sector will participate in this mission.

Indicating the high degree of interest in the Korean market, 16 of the companies ― 31 percent ― are visiting Korea for a second or third time through the program.

With increased interest in disaster prevention, particularly following the recent earthquake in Japan, the exhibition will feature a variety of European technologies and products related to shock, vibration and seismic resistance, as well as interior and exterior construction materials and building-related solutions.

Companies in the environment and energy field will also showcase new and renewable energy solutions, water treatment systems, energy-saving devices, and other advanced technologies and products complying with international environmental policies and standards.

During their five-day stay in Korea, the European participants will also tour Samsung “Green Tomorrow,” a zero-energy, environmentally friendly building, visit Suji Respia, a wastewater facility, and take in other environmentally friendly sites and facilities for a firsthand glimpse of the construction, environment and energy-related industries of Korea.

Korean companies and individuals can register to visit the exhibition on the EU Gateway Program website at www.eu-gateway.kr or its mobile site at m.eu-gateway.kr. Individual business meetings with EU companies can also be requested via the website, email to koreaoffice@eu-gateway.kr or telephone (02) 2659-6319.

By Yoav Cerralbo (yoav@heraldcorp.com)