Prime Minister Fiala discussed with Korean President Jun Sok-jol about the involvement of Czech industry in the completion of Dukovan and the development of economic cooperation
On Friday, September 20, 2024, Prime Minister Petr Fiala met with the President of the Republic of Korea, Jun Sok-yol, with whom he discussed in particular the expansion of cooperation in nuclear energy, including the involvement of the Czech industry in the construction of new nuclear units, the deepening of economic relations and the development of scientific and technical cooperation. The leaders jointly visited the plants of Doosan Škoda Power and Škoda Jaderné strojírenství in Pilsen. The foreign ministers of both countries signed the Action Plan for the implementation of the Strategic Partnership for the years 2025-2027, and a number of memoranda on cooperation were also signed.
The Korean president arrived in the Czech Republic at the head of a large business delegation not long after the selection of the Korean company KHNP as the preferred supplier in the tender for the completion of the nuclear power plant in Dukovany. The meeting began in Pilsen with a visit to the companies Doosan Škoda Power and Škoda JS, which should participate in the completion of the new nuclear units. “The experience and results of these companies are among the clear advantages of the Czech nuclear ecosystem. And it is precisely the involvement of Czech companies in the tender for the completion of Dukovan that we pay great attention to. In its offer, the Korean side declared that it would involve up to 60% of Czech companies in the preparation and construction of new nuclear units, which would mean contracts worth more than 240 billion crowns for them. I believe that we will be able to achieve this common goal,” said the Prime Minister.
The Czech Prime Minister emphasized that relations between the Czech Republic and the Republic of Korea have been more intense than ever in recent years, which opens the door to new projects. The involvement of Czech companies in the construction of new blocks and the development of economic cooperation, especially in sectors with high added value, represents a huge opportunity for citizens and companies in both countries.
“Prospective areas are small modular reactors, hydrogen technologies, energy engineering, health care or the defense, aviation and space industries. A model example is the cooperation between the Czech Škoda Transportation and the Korean company Hyundai Rotem on the supply of locomotives to Africa and Asia,” said Prime Minister Fiala.
The turnover of mutual trade is steadily growing and exceeds 5 billion dollars (more than 100 billion CZK)
During the visit, the following agreements and memoranda were signed at the Government Office:
Action plan for the implementation of the Strategic Partnership between the Czech Republic and the Republic of Korea for the period 2025-2027
Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Korea regarding the EIPP program to support economic and innovation cooperation
Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea regarding the framework for trade and investment support
Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea regarding dialogue to support cooperation in supply chains and energy
Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea regarding cooperation in the field of high-tech industry “Vltava”
Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea regarding cooperation in the field of the battery industry
Memorandum on cooperation between the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Republic of Korea in the field of rail transport, including high-speed rail connections
Memorandum on cooperation between the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Republic of Korea in the field of railway transport on cooperation in the reconstruction of Ukraine
Memorandum on mutual cooperation between the National Development Bank, the Czech Export Bank, the Export Guarantee and Insurance Company, the Korean Export-Import Bank (KEXIM) and the Korean Commercial Insurance Company (K-SURE).
