Ottawa: The presidential chief of staff is contemplating a visit to Canada early next month in his role as a presidential special envoy for strategic economic cooperation, sources indicated on Thursday. This potential visit may relate to Ottawa's ongoing submarine procurement project.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, is planning to participate in a South Korea-Canada forum on energy, security, and supply chains, scheduled to take place in Canada in late May or early June. The visit appears to be strategically aimed at securing a win for South Korean shipbuilders in Ottawa's substantial submarine procurement project, valued at 60 trillion won (US$39.9 billion).
Currently, a consortium comprising South Korea's Hanwha Ocean-HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is vying for the contract against Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. Canada is anticipated to declare the final bidder by late June. A presidential official stated that the government is exploring various avenues to bolster and expand cooperation with Canada, which possesses abundant resources, particularly in the areas of energy, supply chains, and resources. The official noted that no definitive decision has been made regarding the forum, including participation details.