Around 70 diplomats, business leaders, and special guests attended the seminar. Both Belgium Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Employment, Economy and Agriculture David Clarinval and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation Maxime Prévot stressed the importance of economic relations with South Korea.
"Belgium is a trustworthy and reliable economic partner, committed to long-term, transparent collaboration," said Deputy Prime Minister David Clarinval, recalling his meeting with his South Korean counterpart Koo Yun-cheol earlier today.
"We come with no hidden agendas – only a sincere desire to build mutually beneficial partnerships. This commitment opens the door to joint initiatives in key sectors such as life sciences and biotechnology."
Investing more than 3 percent of GDP on research, Belgium stands as a long-time biotech powerhouse of Europe. The bilingual nation continues its growth in biotech, listing in March 2024 that its biotech companies reached a combined market capitalization of €66.8 billion, a 42.7 percent increase year-on-year.
“Our country boasts thriving clusters of excellence in biopharma, nuclear medicine, vaccines, green chemistry, and more. These hubs of innovation are supported by strong academic institutions, cutting-edge research, and a collaborative ecosystem that fosters breakthroughs and accelerates delivery to global markets,” said Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prévot.
Deputy Minister Maxime Prévot reminded the audience that 2026 is the 125th year the two nations celebrate diplomatic relations; a partnership strengthened by military cooperation during the Korean War in the 1950s.
The event also showcased Belgium's strength in biotech sectors spurring from academic excellence to science parks dedicated to biomedical research and powered by quantum computing, respectively representing the northern Dutch-speaking Flanders, the southern French-speaking Wallonia, and the capital region of Brussels.
Hwang Su-jin, general manager of UCB Korea, the Korean branch of the Belgian pharma giant, congratulated the bilateral cooperation as the final speaker.
reporter
Kim Dong-young
davekim0807@ajupress.com
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