John Halligan, Ireland’s minister of state for training, skills, and innovation, visited Korea from Oct. 5 to 8 to discuss ways to bolster bilateral cooperation, according to the Irish Embassy in Seoul.
He visited the Irish enterprises running businesses in Korea and their Korean partners during his three-day stay. He shared thoughts on increasing trade between the two nations, particularly in technology sectors.
During his visit to Gyeonggi Province, he went to the Center for Creative Economy and Innovation to discuss how the two sides can bolster their economies driven by export and high-technology.
Halligan joined a reception for the Korea-based alumni of all Irish universities and higher education institutions at Irish Ambassador Aingeal O’Donoghue’s residence in Seoul.
This was the first reception aimed at enhancing networking among those alumni here. They included researchers at Seoul National University and Kyungpook National University.
Ireland has the fastest-growing economy among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member states, according to the embassy.
Ireland and Korea’s common ground is that they both have export-led economies.
“Irish government policies are focused on driving innovation and supporting entrepreneurship and high-potential startups,” the embassy said.
Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis will make an official visit to Korea from Oct. 11 to 14, the Costa Rican Embassy in Seoul announced last week.
It said he will hold a summit with President Park Geun-hye at Cheong Wa Dae, Oct. 12, and discuss how the two countries can work together to maintain their cooperative ties.
The agenda includes science and technology, infrastructure development as well as joint efforts to press North Korea for denuclearization.
They are scheduled to sign a set of memorandums of understanding concerning bilateral cooperation after the summit.
Solis is also scheduled to meet Korean media individually.
Costa Rica and Korea established diplomatic relations in 1962.
France will join “Robotworld 2016,” an annual exhibition aimed at promoting the use of robots in various industries in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province from Oct. 12 to 15.
The exhibition at the KINTEX is anticipated to draw 160,000 visitors, including officials from 150 enterprises in eight countries, according to Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, which will host the event.
The French Embassy in Seoul said last week that the country’s participation will be meaningful to celebrate the 130th anniversary of France-Korea diplomatic relations..
The participating firms and organizations will include Softbank Robotics, Aquitaine Robotics, Awabot, Big Robots, Innorobo, Navya Technologies, Robotswim, Rovenso, Renault Samsung Motors, Yomzeo, Youth in France and Dojo.
“The exhibition is expected to offer leaders of the Korean robotics industry an opportunity to build relations with French companies,” the embassy said in a press release.